IT was supposed to be a simple memorial to remember three friends whose lives were wiped out.

But 18 months on, the families of Martin Connop, Emma Proctor and John Gibbings are back to square one in their bid to find a lasting memorial to honour their loved ones.

That's because just two people complained about the proposed stone which would have been placed in a remote spot next to a canal in Lowlands, Cwmbran.

A notice was put up in the vicinity, and two unnamed complainants felt a headstone-style memorial was unsuitable for the area.

Torfaen council had previously refused the families' plans to put up a memorial near the spot where the three were killed in Five Locks Road.

They proposed an alternative site near the canal, a move which was welcomed at the time by Mr Gibbings' niece, Sarah Gibbings, 16. Anne-Marie Gibbings, sister-in-law of John Gibbings, said of the latest setback: "It's disgusting.

"It has taken us over a year to try and get something done.

"Every time we have come up with something we have had more and more hurdles placed in front of us.

"Our family have had enough. We just want to remember our loved ones.

"Their deaths affected the whole community, not just us."

The council tried to fast-track the canal application and make a decision but now have to throw it out because of the two objections.

A council spokesman said: "We have received letters from two residents, expressing support in principle for a memorial but stating concerns about the type of memorial.

"We have spoken to the applicants and they are looking at other types of memorial instead, such as a plaque or bench."

The three were mown down in the street by a 4x4 driven by schizophrenic Steven Price on April 14, 2004.

In October 2004, a judge ordered Price to be detained at a secure hospital after he pleaded guilty to the three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The three friends - Mr Connop, 31, Miss Proctor, 25, and Mr Gibbings, 37, were on their way to Mr Connop's house for a barbecue.

Price mistakenly believed Mr Connop "wanted to kill him", the court was told.

Emma Proctor's grandmother, Frances Proctor, 66, said: "I still can't believe Emma has gone.

"I'm sure we will get something lovely to remember them by in the end. We will look after it and it will never just be left to rot."