Mum Told To Take Down NHS Rainbow Leaving Daughter, 5, Heartbroken

A little girl was 'heartbroken' after a neighbour complained about her NHS rainbow tribute, meaning her mum had to remove it.

Five-year-old Sophie Gray and mum Sam drew a large chalk rainbow on the side of their house as a tribute to NHS workers who are tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

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However, one neighbour was not impressed with their handiwork and called up their landlord to complain.

Sam, from Holbeach in Lincolnshire, said: "I'd only just woken up when the estate agent rang up.

"She was really understanding. She said we understand why you've done it, but we've got to act because the landlord has been in touch with us.

"It must be another neighbour who knows the landlord, because I don't even know who the landlord is and this is a quiet cul-de-sac.

"You've got to be really sad to complain about a chalk drawing."

Rainbows have become a symbol of gratitude for NHS staff and others who are working on the front-line during the outbreak.

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Sam said she removed the rainbow drawing last week, leaving little Sophie gutted.

"She was upset," Sam said.

"We made it on 4 April, so it's not been there a huge length of time. It was in quite a shaded area, so unless it rained really heavily it wasn't going to come off.

"We live in a two bedroom flat, we don't have a garden of our own, just the little bit outside on the ground floor.

"I drew the outline and Sophie helped me colour it in. I wanted it to be big and bright enough so people could see.

"It was just something to cheer up Sophie and cheer up the neighbours. I couldn't understand why anyone would complain.

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"One of my neighbours said she couldn't believe it either. Everyone else I've spoken to can't believe it either."

Sam said she received a second phone call from the estate agent's office to say it was OK to keep the colourful tribute up, but that it was too late and she'd already removed it.

Fortunately, one of her neighbours has come to her and Sophie's rescue.

Sam said: "We haven't got enough chalk to do another. But one of our neighbours is letting Sophie draw one on their wall."

Topics: uk news, Coronavirus

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19