The discovery of a bloody pig's head impaled on railings outside Ponders End mosque has sent shock waves through the community.

The discovery of the remains outside the building, in High Street, was made by police officers on Thursday morning.

The severed pig's head is particularly offensive to Muslims, because their faith regards the animals as unclean. Enfield police are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a pig's head was found at around 7.35am and officers immediately informed the mosque's representatives."

The day before the discovery of the pig's head, Ponders End councillor Chris Bond spotted Nazi symbols daubed on two telephone kiosks outside the mosque.

Enfield Council's environmental services swooped to remove both the swastika symbols from the telephone kiosks and the pig's head from the railings.

Ponders End councillor Doug Taylor said: "I, along with the vast majority of people, would totally condemn any attempt to undermine worshippers at the mosque.

"Ponders End enjoys good community relations, with people living alongside each other in a multicultural environment. We must ensure this type of intolerance is stamped out."

Cllr Ertan Hurer, the council's cabinet member for community safety said: "We take all incidents of crime very seriously. Enfield Council is working in partnership with the police and other organisations, and is about to launch an amalgamated hate crime forum to deal with crimes of this nature, including crimes against race, faith, sexuality and disability."

Anyone with information about either of the two incidents should call the police crimedesk on 8345 4441 or the council's hate crime officer on 8379 4000.