THE parents of murdered Claire Tiltman have spoken of their anger after vandals tore out a memorial near where the 16-year-old collapsed and died from multiple stab wounds.

Lin, 51, and Cliff Tiltman, 53, of Woodward Terrace, Horns Cross, woke up to news vandals had ripped up the memorial in London Road last Friday morning.

A postman spotted a gang of youngsters hanging around the spot at about 2am on June 27 and found the damage about an hour later on his way back to the depot.

He made sure the brass plaque, which was still on its slate base and attached to two bricks, was returned to the devastated couple later in the day.

Both are appalled at the ferocity which the gang used to remove the plaque from the bricked memorial and say everyone in the community is fuming about the “mindless” vandalism.

Mrs Tiltman said: “We are more angry than upset because it’s been there for a long time and most people in the area know what it is.

“People always put flowers there — they still do even though it’s more than 10 years now, and no-one’s ever touched it before.” “These people might have been six, seven or eight when it happened but at the end of the day, whether you know the story or not, it still doesn’t give people the right to do that type of thing,” she said.

“It’s sickening because it’s consecrated land to a degree.” North Kent police put the memorial up in 1997 bearing Claire’s name and that of Superintendent Owen Taylor, who first led the investigation into her murder.

The 53-year-old died in 1997.

Claire was stabbed more than 40 times in an alleyway off London Road on January 18, 1993.

The killer has never been found and her parents and friends have drawn some comfort from the memorials dotted around the area, including a bench at Dartford Grammar School, in Shepherds Lane, and a road near Greenhithe’s Asda called Claire’s Causeway.

Mr and Mrs Tiltman are uncertain whether to put the plaque back in the same spot for fear of repeat attacks.

But Mrs Tiltman said: “The memorial is in a vulnerable spot but that’s where she collapsed and died.” Anyone with information should call 01322 280055 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.