A GRIEVING mother has condemned bosses at Castle Howard after they ordered the removal of flowers from the spot where her son died - and then got his name wrong.

Friends and relatives of Lawrence Koppert placed tributes outside Castle Howard's Carrmire Gate, after the University of York student drove his car into the archway three weeks ago. But when his mother, Pam, went back to the spot with other family members, she was devastated to find the bouquets had all gone.

Castle Howard then issued a statement explaining the move, but incorrectly referred to Mrs Koppert's son as "Lawrence Copley".

Mrs Koppert today Sat labelled Castle Howard insensitive and disrespectful. She said she thought the flowers were removed because Castle Howard did not want them there for the Bank Holiday weekend, or because film crews were shooting the new Garfield 2 movie.

Lawrence, 23, of Sherburn, near Malton, died early on August 15, hours before he was due to appear at York Crown Court on a wounding charge, which he denied.

The Evening Press recently reported that, shortly before killing himself, he sent his brother James a text message which read: "They have created a monster. Now they must face it."

Mrs Koppert said relatives and friends of Lawrence had gone to the site and could not believe the flowers were gone. She added: "They are filming Garfield 2 there, and obviously they do not want flowers around there. They just wanted them away for the Bank Holiday, and I think it's very insensitive."

She said: "It's disrespectful not even to get his name right in their comment."

Castle Howard's estates officer, Duncan Peake, said the removal of the flowers had nothing to do with the filming. He said it was done for safety reasons, after two incidents in which mourners had nearly been hit by cars, and following consultation with the police family liaison officer. But Mrs Koppert said she was not informed until a friend saw the flowers had gone. An earlier written statement from Castle Howard read: "Everyone at Castle Howard extends their deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Mr Lawrence Copley, who died in the tragic incident on August 15."

Sonia Lawson, the mother of Lawrence's girlfriend, Kat, who is from York, called the decision disgusting. She said: "It seems to be that they do not want a memorial along the gates of their famous landmark."

North Yorkshire Police's family liaison officer was unavailable for comment, but Inspector Neil Burnett said: "While I do not know at this stage if the police have been directly involved in agreeing the removal by Castle Howard, I can fully understand some of the dangers at that location."

He added: "Having said that, we really are acutely sensitive to the needs of family relatives and friends to grieve for lost ones."

Two bunches of flowers were lying by the side of the archway yesterday.

Updated: 10:38 Saturday, September 03, 2005