A JEWISH leader has slammed the “horrific” racists who marred Remembrance Sunday.

Joel Friedman, a member of the Jewish community on the island, admitted he was “relieved” that it was not just the Jewish community targeted.

Jewish, racist and homophobic slurs were painted on cars, walls and garages across Canvey on Sunday during a spate of hate crimes against minority groups Nazis had persecuted

He said: “It is awful, it is very shocking but it is strange because it has not taken place in the Jewish community, it is outside normal residents’ homes.

“I am trying to find out more from the police at the moment, but it appears to be some kind of white supremacist.

“It is anti-Jew, racist, and homophobic, it is targetting almost everyone.

“It is totally unacceptable, horrific and disgusting, although we do take some comfort that it has not been directly targeted at us. It is very poignant that it took place on Remembrance Sunday, but we have had comforting messages from across the community in support of us.”