Friends and relatives of people killed on Thurrock's roads have been banned from placing permanent memorials by the roadside.

Thurrock Council has decided to introduce the ban to prevent mourners from getting injured as they visit the memorials, particularly on the borough's busiest roads.

The council has also decided not to allow flowers or tributes to be left at death scenes on the most dangerous stretches of roads.

Flowers which lie on the bank of the London-bound A13, just before the Stifford turn off, are in memory of Nikki Clarke, 20, who died when her Ka flipped over and crushed her on Monday, July 17.

These will not be allowed under the new legislation.

Wendy Bibby, the council's street service's manager, said: "Unfortunately the placing of flowers (at the scene of accidents) has become more frequent in Thurrock.

"While we respect the need for people to grieve and the sensitivity this brings, we need to look at the health and safety aspect. Other people are putting their lives at risk to place flowers at the scene."

The council will not allow permanent memorials of any kind to be placed at the scene of a fatal accident and instead will offer relatives the opportunity of a memorial tree or bench.

Flowers will be permitted to be temporarily laid as long as they are in a safe place away from busy traffic. However, all wreaths will be removed 30 days after the death.

Relatives will be given the chance to collect the flowers and other tributes before they are taken away.