RACIST graffiti has been sprayed on children's play equipment in Chalfont St Peter.

Nazi swastikas and National Front logos are among the tags to have daubed on items at the play area on Gold Hill Common.

The village's Community Centre, telephone boxes and walls and benches have also been attacked by vandals.

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council has since paid to have the damage caused in the playground painted over.

But Cllr Isobel Darby said money from the repair bill could have been put to better use on other things.

She said: “Anti-social behaviour costs money to deal with, and we would rather spend it in better play equipment.

“It's not just a cost in terms of money and our employees' time, it's at a cost to the taxpayer as well.”

Cllr Darby said tackling vandalism was a key priority for the parish council.

She said: “The parish council are quite hot on graffiti of any description. The longer it's there, the more it encourages other people to do it.

“The best thing to do is to ignore them and paint over it, then they haven't made their point for very long.

“We're taking it very seriously. We want to remove it because it's offensive to people. I'm against graffiti of any nature.”

She urged anyone with information to contact police, adding graffiti of a racist nature had appeared in the village before.

Police investigating the attacks believe they took place at the weekend.

Officers said: “This is part of an emerging pattern in the area and police are appealing for help in identifying the offenders.”

Anyone with information should contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505 or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.