JUST four hours after the news of the apparently stolen memorial bench of the late Dr Feelgood singer Lee Brilleaux was made public on Saturday night, kind-hearted fans donated money to fund its replacement.

Zoe Howe, author of Lee Brilleaux: Rock n Roll Gentleman, published last year, says she was shocked when she noticed the memorial for Lee, which was situated on Leigh Cliffs and near to where his ashes were scattered, was missing.

After doing some investigating and concluding the bench must have been stolen, Zoe launched a Crowdfunding plea to raise £809 for a replacement bench on Saturday night, October 15.

On the Crowdfunding page, she explained: "As many locals will have now noticed, the memorial bench commemorating Dr Feelgood singer Lee Brilleaux on Leigh Cliffs has mysteriously disappeared. This was a real shock to me and many others - it was the only memorial / marker for Lee in Southend and it was in the perfect position - relatively private, looking out over both his old manor of Canvey Island and the site where his ashes were scattered.

"I first spotted the distinct absence of bench a few weeks ago, and immediately got onto the council about it, as I wanted to know whether or not there was a legitimate reason for its removal or whether it had, as I feared, been nicked, before going any further with it.

"I discussed this with Dr Feelgood secretary Ann Adley - who with her husband Jerry commissioned the original bench after Lee passed away in 1994 - and Lee's wife Shirley, and after further correspondences with the council between us, it was concluded that the parks team was not behind its removal and they had to concede it had been stolen."

Via the Crowdfunding page Zoe announced the council has reserved Lee's spot for a replacement bench, which comes in at £809 including the plaque.

Within four hours the money was raised.

Zoe told the Echo: "I just want to say that myself, Ann Adley and the Brilleaux family, are all astounded at the swift response and generosity of Lee’s fans and friends - on a Saturday night and everything! It has absolutely restored our faith in human nature.

"Yes, one or two people committed a horrible act, but so many more were moved to help make the situation right in honour of a man they all still love and admire so much. Suffice to say, there are a lot of very angry and sickened Feelgood fans and friends of Lee out there right now. One of his friends said to me that the act was akin to stealing a gravestone, and I have to agree - Lee was cremated so that really was the only memorial that existed for him here. It was very jarring to see that it had suddenly gone.

"Once the new bench is in its rightful place, I definitely want to hold a bit of a party there for the supporters and anyone else who would like to come along, and toast it with Lee’s favourite tipple (G&T, naturally)."

The funds for the new bench will be released at the end of the 30 day fundraising period.