A memorial bench dedicated to a young woman who was murdered almost 15 years ago has been destroyed.

Amanda Champion's body was found on land off Mead Road near The Albion pub in South Willesborough in July 2003.

The 21-year-old, who lived in Alfred Road, had been reported missing 11 days earlier and had not been at work for more than three weeks.

The bench was placed close to where Miss Champion’s body was discovered, was found smashed into several pieces.

South Willesborough resident Chris Pimm, 55, who spotted the ruins, said: "I have walked past the bench for the last 15 years and it was just devastating for me to see so close to the anniversary.

"I was quite emotional and I just don’t know how somebody in their right mind would want to do that to somebody's memorial bench.

"It is just disgusting."

Mr Pimm’s son, who was just 15 at the time, found Miss Champion's body while playing a game of hide and seek in the bushes.

She was last seen on Thursday, July 3, just after 5pm in the South Willesborough post office, Mead Road, buying milk and crisps.

A plaque on the bench reads: "This bench has been donated by the local community in memory of Amanda Champion. 1982 - 2003."

Mr Pimm added: "As somebody who was a part of the original investigation, because my boy found the body, it means a lot to me.

"Amanda was a local girl, her family all live locally, so hopefully something can be done about it and we can get another bench there.

"We were part of the original investigation, we reported it to the police, so it's quite personal to me."

Miss Champion worked for the BP Travel Marketing Services on the Orbital Park in Sevington.

James Ford, a 26-year-old from Hunter Avenue, was jailed for life at Maidstone Crown Court in 2004 after being for guilty of killing Miss Champion.

VIDEO: Memorial bench to murdered Amanda Champion destroyed