A grieving dad has reacted angrily to a councillor’s criticisms of his son’s roadside memorial and told him to “get lost”.

The family and friends of Adrian Stroud, 23, who was killed in a crash on the Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay on April 19, have created a colourful shrine at the spot.

It is adorned with fresh flowers, messages of condolence, photographs and large letters spelling out his name.

But Herne Bay county councillor Brian MacDowall has this week added his voice to criticism of the tribute, which Kent County Council and police want moved to another spot.

Describing it as “an inappropriate use of public space”, he said: “Family and friends should ask themselves some serious questions.

“For several weeks following the accident, mourners congregating at the site, plus their parked vehicles at the roadside, did cause significant driver distraction; causing, on least one occasion, drivers to swerve toward cyclists.

“Surely its in no one’s interest to become the cause of another serious injury or fatality?

“Eventually the site will have to be cleared, presumably at taxpayers' expense - which is also unfair.”

“Both KCC and Kent Police have worked tirelessly to bring about closure of this issue.

“One can have sympathy for the loss suffered, but life must go on.”

The Ukip councillor instead urged mourners to put their efforts into making the county’s roads safer.

He said: “If the family and friends want do something positive to improve road safety, please seriously consider participation in and promotion of advanced driving courses to upgrade skills behind the wheel.”

Reacting to Cllr MacDowall’s remarks, Adrian’s father Andy Stroud said: “In my opinion he can get lost.

“We will lose the memorial soon enough because the council will take it away and after a year or so there will be nothing there.”

The 50-year-old storeman says public opinion on the memorial is in the family’s favour.

He said: “The Facebook page we set up in support of the memorial had 1,000 members at first and now that’s gone up to 5,000.”

A Kent Online poll on the subject revealed that a majority were in favour of the memorial – with 65% saying it should be kept.

Mr Stroud added: “People should back off, leave the memorial alone and let it run its course.

“It helps me knowing that the memorial is there and the criticism makes it more difficult for me to move on.”