RESIDENTS in Bovey Tracey have been disgusted by racist graffiti daubed over a memorial bench.

The bench at Bullers Field play area, which had been lovingly carved out of a large log, has now been defaced twice with racially aggravating words and symbols, most recently a Nazi swastika.

The bench had been created in memory of Mike Dyer who died of cancer two years ago.

PCSO Paul Wilson, of Chudleigh police, is appealing for information to catch the culprits. He said: ‘This has genuinely upset a lot of people in the local community.

‘I suspect it is children who think it is funny to make these kind of stupid comments.

‘But people are really worried and Bovey Tracey is quite multi cultural.

‘This is something we need to stop straight away.’

The incidents are being treated as racially and religiously aggravated criminal damage.

On both occasions, the graffiti was quickly removed.

PCSO Wilson is keen to hear from anyone who may know who was responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting crime reference CR/20616/17.