RACISTS vandals who covered a Colchester underpass with hate messages and Swastika symbols have been condemned.

Commuters using the passageway at Westway yesterday morning were disturbed to find white supremacist messages including “Keep Britain White” covering the walls and pavements.

Also daubed was the web address of an American white nationalist neo-Nazi Internet forum which gained notoriety as the Internet's first major hate site.

Essex Police, which launched an investigation into the “hate crime”.

A spokesman said: “It’s believed the damage was caused sometime after 10pm yesterday.

“Officers are treating the incident as a hate crime and would appeal for anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area or has any other information about the offence to call Colchester Police Station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously.”

See Wednesday's Gazette for the full story.