FLAGS laid out in memory of a Saltcoats man who died last week have been taken from his home in Saltcoats.

Edward 'Eddie' Townsley passed away on Friday, May 12, and his family set up a memorial to him the following day.

Outside his home on Smith Drive, they had placed two Glasgow Rangers Football Club flags - which they had written messages on for the late Eddie.

However, much to the distress of his grieving family, when they returned to Eddie's home to check on the memorial on Sunday, May 14, the two football club flags had been taken away.

They say that they appear to have been cut down and stolen.

Upsetting the family further, these two flags were to be put on Eddie's coffin after they had sat at the memorial.

Now, they are making desperate appeals for the flags to be returned.

Though despite a post on social media site Facebook being shared over 500 times, they have yet to be placed back at the memorial.

A family member told the Herald: "All we want is for the flags to be put back at the memorial site as they are no good to anyone else as they are covered in messages from his family.

"Also, the flags were to be put on Eddie’s coffin after they had sat at the memorial for a while. Honestly (I'm) so disgusted with people."