A ROW has erupted which could stop a Mid Cheshire mum erect a permanent memorial to her children.

Samantha Tolley of Northwich was hoping to place a stone memorial at the spot in North Wales where her estranged husband, Keith Young from Winsford, killed brothers Joshua, Thomas, Callum and Daniel.

But 12 months after giving the plaque to council bosses, the family have had it returned and have been told that permission has not been given to erect the memorial at the Horseshoe Pass.

The four brothers were killed by their farm labourer father in March 2003. Roslynne Lumsden, who runs a cafe near the scene of the tragedy, came to know the Tolleys following the tragedy and led the campaign to have the plaque, made from the same stone as the children's headstones, erected alongside a makeshift shrine set up by well-wishers.

Ms Lumsden said she was 'amazed at all the fuss'. She said: 'We were told we could have the plaque in the cafe car park. But the tragedy didn't happen here, it happened a quarter of a mile up the road. I was told it may 'open the floodgates' for others killed on the road to have plaques along the roadside. But this is different. These children were killed by their father, they were not the victims of, say, a motorcycle accident. I just don't understand why they will not let her have the commemorative plaque there.'

The local community council clerk Sandra Baker said: 'We are incredibly sympathetic to Miss Tolley. It is absolutely devastating what happened.

'We have suggested that a commemorative seat be placed there. But we have been told locals don't want memorials there and we have been elected to represent local people.'

But there was a ray of hope. The Countryside Council for Wales said if a planning application was made to Denbigh-shire County Council for the plaque to be erected, it would back it.

A county council spokesman said: 'We have advised the family that any plaque would need permission from the Countryside Council for Wales, as the site is located in a Site of Special Scientific Interest. CCW regional manager Tim Jones said it would grant permission and Mrs Lumsden said she may even put the application in herself.

Miss Tolley's mother, Phyllis, told the Chronicle it was important to have somewhere where people could gather. 'We wanted to have a permanent memorial to the boys, but the council is just made up of little people - how could it say this plaque could not be put up?'

Miss Tolley added: 'I am just amazed by how many people are still leaving toys at the shrine. Just before Christmas we brought three or four bags of toys home to wash them and by the time we took them back up, even more had appeared.

'The help we have had from Roslynne and her family has been unreal - they have been a great support and have stood by us. We just hope we will be able to put up the memorial eventually.'