A row has broken out over a mural put up to remember murdered teen Billy Cox.

The 8ft memorial appeared last week yards from the 15-year-old's front door.

It was painted by a professional graffiti artist after a request by Billy's mates.

They had knocked on doors around the Fenwick Estate in Clapham North where Billy lived to drum up support for the memorial.

But, according to the group, Lambeth council has told them to take it down - because Billy's pals did not get permission.
 

His grief-stricken friends, who say they worked hard to organise the memorial, have reacted angrily to Lambeth's decision.

Jake Easton, 15, said: "We're not going to let them take it down.

"We've been knocking on doors and going round shops for weeks to try to get it done in time for the funeral.

"This is not graffiti, it is art and it is for Billy. If they take it down we're just going to paint it back on again."

Also involved were Jake's brother Danny, 10, Logan Edgar-Shirley, 14, John Robert Edwards, 14, and PJ Baxter, 22.

Billy's parents, Tom and Kim, returned to the estate on the day of his funeral and saw the mural.

Family friend Brian Parker, who lives opposite Billy's former home, is negotiating with the council.

He said: "Billy's parents said they liked it and didn't have a problem with it being up at all.

"I like it, too, but I can understand why some people might want it taken down.

"Some of the flats here are occupied by leaseholders and the council wants it taken down.

"I'm just trying to referee."

Billy was gunned down in his flat in Fenwick Place on February 14.

His family have since been rehoused in Camberwell after saying they did not want to return to the place where he was killed.

So far no arrests have been made in connection with his death.