OUTRAGEOUS graffiti daubed on Ilkley War Memorial has been classed as a racially aggravated hate crime by police.

The monument in the memorial garden on The Grove, which commemorates the town’s many fallen in WWI and WWII, was subjected vandalism described by the town's MP Robbie Moore as an  "outrageous act of total and utter depravity" over the weekend. A second incident was reported this morning (19 October).

Pink swastikas were marked on to the stone work on all four of its sides, as well as on buildings in other parts of the memorial grounds.

Edward Wild, of Ilkley, who has a special interest in the War Memorial having completed research into its history and the lives of the men who are named on it, first saw the damage on Sunday morning. He reported it as anti-social behaviour to West Yorkshire Police and also to Bradford Council's graffiti unit.

He said: "Given the extent of the damage this doesn’t appear to be a random act but seems quite deliberate.

"This is a cowardly attack. The monument commemorates those who gave their lives but also is a place of remembrance and reflection. The memorial garden is a precious place which belongs to everyone in Ilkley. Our memorial should not be the subject of this type of a abuse."

Ilkley's MP, the town council and district councillors have also voiced their disgust.

Robbie Moore MP said: "To deface Ilkley War Memorial with swastikas is an outrageous act of total and utter depravity and strikes at the very heart of our values as a town. The police are absolutely right to investigate this act as a racially aggravated hate crime, and the perpetrators ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Such hatred and ignorance has absolutely no place in our town or indeed in any community."

An Ilkley Town Council spokesperson said: "Ilkley Town Council is deeply saddened by the graffiti in this location, and concerned by police indications that it is being treated as a racially-aggravated hate crime. The Memorial Gardens and the monuments within it are of deep symbolic and personal importance to the town of Ilkley and its residents. We hope that whoever is responsible for these acts will reconsider in future, bearing in mind the deep distress caused by their actions."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said: "I am absolutely appalled at the lack of respect to the dead. But also to the town. Some appear to think 'anything goes'. Well it doesn’t.

"This is not only this incident in the memorial area and there are also painted signs distributed on pavements around the town. Ilkley doesn’t appreciate it."

Councillor Andrew Loy (Con, Ilkley) said: “It is utterly shocking that anyone could think of insulting the memory of those who died for their country in this way. I hope anyone with information about this despicable crime will help the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

DCI Andy Woodhead of Bradford District Police, said: “This vandalism will undoubtedly, and rightly, have caused a great deal of offence in communities in Ilkley. Due to the nature of the damage, we have recorded a racially aggravated hate crime.

“We have been liaising with Bradford Council about the matter and I would ask anyone who has any information at all about what occurred to contact the Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101 referencing crime number 13220570925 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat

“Information can also be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Our Graffiti Removal team was informed of this offensive graffiti on Monday (17 October) and removed it on the same day. They will return later this week to apply more removal agent.

"This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and we will work with the police and other partners to tackle it and would ask people report incidents like this.”