A mother who lost her children to tragedy has been left astounded after her community helped restore their memorial garden after it was vandalised.
Tracey Beadle, 42, from Shildon, lost her children, Quinn, 17, in December 2018 and Dyllon, 21, ten months later, after they tragically took their own lives.
A memorial garden was set up in honour of the pair and Ms Beadle said it has served as a community symbol for those who have lost loved ones.
The garden was damaged last Wednesday (June 14) in a mindless act of vandalism which left the community and Ms Beadle shocked.
Read more: Shildon mum who lost both kids to suicide calls for urgent action
She said her neighbour informed them the memorial had been vandalised before they had made their way to the garden.
Ms Beadle told The Northern Echo: "It was just... they had stamped on plants, they had pulled all the flowers up, broken lots of ornaments, lots of nice little things on the ground.
"Children pass it on their way down to the Railway Museum, we have lots of nice things for children to look at.
"It was just a real mess really.
"It probably took them a few minutes to do it, but the impact, it's not just us who go to the memorial garden, the whole community use it."
Read more: Man, 30, arrested after incident on Muriel Road, Redcar
She added that others have asked their family if they can leave things at the memorial for people who they have lost.
Additionally, she said each week they visit the garden, they find something new placed there by a visitor.
She said they have contacted police and they are stepping up PCSO patrols in the area following the incident.
Adding to this, they have had £100 in donations, which has been given to their neighbour Eric who tends the memorial, along with many gifted plants from the community.
"We were just absolutely devastated, the memorial garden's been there for four-and-a-half years and everyone has respected it until now," she added
"It was a nice place to be able to go and reflect.
"We've been very lucky, the community's really come together. What happened afterwards has really put our faith back in the community and in the people around us.
"That has really restored our faith, what's happened since. The community astounds us all the time with their generosity."
She said the garden is again looking "amazing" and thanked those who provided with support and donations.
Ms Beadle said they have recently started a peer support group in Darlington with charity Survivors of Bereavement through Suicide (SOBS).
Read next:
- Darlington: Met Office hour-by-hour forecast predicts sunny weather
- Cooplands close two more North East shops after Darlington closure
- Newcastle: Two arrested in alleged £10,000 watch theft on Dean Street
If you want to read more stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for more quality journalism. Click here.
She said those looking for help can contact them on darlington@uksobs.org.
Samaritans is available, day or night, 365 days of the year.
You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here