VANDALS who ‘violated’ a children’s all-weather pitch with highly offensive graffiti have been slammed by the community.

The graffiti, which includes a Nazi swastika, racist slurs and an image of a sex act, were spray-painted on an outdoor pitch at Greenfield Community Centre, Blackburn.

More was also daubed on hoardings at the centre, which is used by all age groups, including young chiuldren and pensioners.

Community leaders said that it was ‘outrageous’ and ‘out of order’ and added that it was ‘very alarming’ that racist language and symbols had been used.

The caretaker of the centre in Green Lane said it was ‘disgusting’.

Police, who said the graffiti was ‘highly offensive’, have launched an investigation and are carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.

Yesterday Blackburn with Darwen Council workers were working to clean up the worst of the dozen or so images.

Meadowhead councillor Konrad Tapp, who discovered the vandalism when he went to the centre for his regular surgery, said: “What kind of mindless thugs desecrate their own area? I am afraid I am at loss to figure out what makes these people 'tick'.

“I have never seen anything as bad as this. It’s racist, it’s out of order and it is offensive to everybody.

“I have been a councillor for seven years and there has been nothing racist in the area. It is shocking.

“There needs to be more discipline. This is not on.

“It is a shame that certain members of society lower themselves to do things like this. They spoil the enjoyment for other people.”

Coun Faryad Hussain, executive member of Environmental Improvement and Sustainability at the council, said: “This type of vandalism is just outrageous and I would urge anyone who saw anything to come forward to help catch the culprits.

“We have done our best to clean it up as soon as possible.”

Coun Tapp said: “It is a shame, it is well used by the community. Children shouldn’t be seeing that when they come in.

“We don’t know if people in the community have done it or if it is people from outside that area.

“If those responsible are caught they should be marched into Greenfield Community Centre to apologise to everyone and try to explain the unexplainable.”

David Bateman, caretaker for Self Unlimited which runs the centre, said: “It is a poor do. These pitches are for the youths in the area. It is disgusting.

“This is costing money to clean up and that money could be used for other things.”

Neighbourhood policing team Sgt Conrad Tapp, who is Coun Tapp’s son, said: “This is highly offensive and completely unacceptable. We need the public’s help in finding the people who are responsible to bring them to justice for this mindless act of vandalism.

“We are carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.”

Meadowhead Councillor Ashley Whalley said: “It’s very disappointing for the whole community to see these communal facilities vandalised.

“It’s also alarming to see racism creeping in.

“It’s time for parents and others who know who is involved to speak out.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lancashire police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.