‘F**k the poppy’ graffiti sprayed on church hall next to Field of Remembrance

‘Vile’ vandals scrawled ‘F**k the poppy’ on a church wall next to a Field of Remembrance dedicated to fallen soldiers.

South Yorkshire Police are investigating after several Remembrance Day crosses at St John’s Methodist Church in Rotherham were kicked down and ‘IRA’ was also etched along the church wall overlooking the tribute.

The incident comes days after the country honoured the men and women who died for their country on Armistice Day.

Locals in South Yorkshire were appalled by the incident, with one resident writing that the people who did it were ‘disgusting pieces of scum’.

Elixabeth Linfoot said: ‘Absolutely vile and disgusting pieces of scum.

‘I’ve had better things on the bottom of my shoes.

‘Should get a prison a crime against the military.’

Emma Wilkinson-Mackenzie added: ‘This is absolutely disrespectful and disgusting.

‘I hope whoever did this is caught and severely punished.’

Liam Redfern wrote: ‘I can’t put into words how I feel about the scum who did this, just makes me wonder who the parents are, what kind of upbringing they are having.

‘Absolute disgraceful.’

On Thursday afternoon, locals rallied to remove the graffiti and replace the crosses.

Police say an investigation is underway and urge anyone with information to make contact.

South Yorkshire Police told Metro.co.uk: ‘Police received reports from Rotherham Council at around 11am on 14 November 2019 of vandalism at a community war memorial on Chapel Hill, Swinton.

‘Officers attended the scene and discovered that graffiti had been sprayed onto the walls of Swinton Church Hall and several crosses in the Field of Remembrance had been kicked down.

‘Officers helped council workers and wider community members to remove the graffiti and replace the crosses.

‘An investigation is underway to find those responsible.

‘If you have any information which might help our officers in their enquiries please call 101 quoting incident number 474 of 14 November 2019.’