Vandals have trashed birthday tributes left to a teenager who took her own life by jumping from a multi-storey car park.

Luhana Barros, also known as Luna, jumped from the Asda multi-storey building at the Bouverie Place shopping centre in Folkestone in June this year.

An inquest in October heard that she killed herself following an argument with a girlfriend.

In an outpouring of grief, countless bouquets of flowers were placed outside the shopping centre and at Lower Radnor Park, where the latest round of tributes were laid at the weekend.

Luna’s uncle Junior Rocha invited those who knew her to visit the park area on Sunday, which would have been her 17th birthday.

The park was a place she visited regularly, especially after school and was relatively close to her home in Coolinge Road, Folkestone.

Hundreds of people turned up and placed flowers, candles, pictures and pots for the former Brockhill Park student, who was Brazillian.

The newly placed memorial bench, complete with a plaque, was blessed by Father Jamie of the Catholic Church in Guildhall Street.

People also said prayers and a chocolate birthday cake was cut.

But on Monday, popped balloons, broken glass and smashed pottery were left strewn over the ground in an act that has been described as “sad” by her family.

Pictures of Luna and her friends had been torn up and scattered over the path.

But in just hours of the incident being reported, friends revisited the area and cleared up the mess.

By this morning, the memorial had been restored.

Mr Rocha, who lives in London, said: “We had birthday cake, we sang her happy birthday and we had a little party, it was a lovely afternoon.

“We have been really sad to hear the memorial was vandalised but we can’t do anything about it.

“We have had hundreds of messages from people saying they are sorry to hear and they have replaced the pictures.

“I am so thankful to everyone in Folkestone, they have all been so kind.

“As a family we loved our child and we feel sorry for the other children, they sit on the bench and reflect about their lives, it is so sad. We can’t blame anyone we just want to get on with our lives.”

The family thanked the Catholic Church for its input and for blessing Luna’s memorial bench.

A police spokesman said they had not yet received a report of criminal damage to the memorial.