Heartless thieves steal love locks left for Sonny Lang on Tadcaster footbridge

Sonny Lang died aged 23 on February 9 following a lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis, with her death sparking an outpouring of grief across Tadcaster.

After successfully campaigning to get Tadcaster’s new footbridge lovingly referred to as ‘Sonny’s Bridge’, it was instantly adorned with love locks left by her family and friends.

However, on Sunday, May 29, Anna-Marie Clark, Sonny’s mother, revealed that a number of the locks had been removed from the bridge, describing those responsible as ‘vile’ and ‘disrespectful’.

Anna posted the sad news on Facebook and said: “Who on this earth carries tin snips, or similar, around with them for fun?

“As to me, that’s clearly how some of the loving remembrance locks have been removed from Sonny’s bridge, absolutely disgusting.”

Anna’s post attracted hundreds of comments from friends condemning the ‘horrendous’ and ‘disgusting’ actions of those responsible for the crime.

Hayley Carter, a friend of Sonny’s, revealed that hers was one of the padlocks stolen from the bridge which had the message ‘Sonny songbird. Love always!! The Carters,” engraved into the lock.

She said: “Completely gutted! Just been over Sonny’s bridge and seen our love lock padlock is missing!

“They are placed there as a tribute to my beautiful friend why on earth would somebody feel the need to remove these?!”

Anna left the first padlock on Sonny’s Bridge just nine days after it was officially opened by Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty and Coun David Jeffels, chair of the county council.

Her padlock bore the message ‘Breathe easy wee yin’ before it was joined by hundreds of other love locks with similar messages of love.

Anna confirmed that she would be informing the police of the matter.