A mystery memorial honouring the victims of the Southport stabbings has been set up almost 300 miles away from the horrific crime.

People living in Eastchurch village on the Isle of Sheppey were left baffled when the shrine appeared beneath a tree off the Rowetts Way roundabout.

It consists of a wooden cross topped with a Union Flag, which has a plaque attached to it and is flanked by two painted carvings of two does and a baby deer.

The plaque reads: “For the murdered children of Southport.”

Three young girls – Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice da Silva Aguiar – were stabbed to death during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July last year.

Teenage killer Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, was jailed for more than 50 years in January.

The attack sent shockwaves across the country and in the aftermath, violent anti-immigration and far-right riots sprang up, which saw more than 1,200 people arrested.

But while Eastchurch villagers are “touched” by the memorial, they are in the dark as to who put it up, 286 miles away from the site of the murders near Liverpool.

All Saints Church warden Susan Hopper says she would like to see the person who made it come forward so they can be recognised.

The 76-year-old former parish councillor said: “I first came across it when I was walking my Scottish terrier dog Bonnie.

“I had walked her the day before, and it was not there then, so it must have been put up overnight.

“It’s touching to see that someone has put the effort into making a really beautiful tribute.”

She added: “It really has got the village talking, as it is a mystery as to who made it.

“But I think it was someone local.

“If I were to meet the person who did it, I would say thank you, as it really is touching.”

The nearby Eastchurch Aviation Museum also does not know who is behind the tribute.

If you know who put up the memorial, then get in touch by sending an email to Jcrossley@thekmgroup.co.uk