RACIST graffiti sprayed in a children's playground has been described as "utterly deplorable" behaviour by the council.

Nazi swastikas were left in The Rye Park over the bank holiday weekend where families visit to take their children to play.

A walker who came across the graffiti reacted with shock after the incident, which has been widely condemned.

Among those who hit out at the symbol, scrawled on the parks playground equipment was Councillor Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure.

He said: "To graffiti a children’s playground is bad enough; to post a symbol that today is linked so closely to racism is utterly deplorable and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms.

"The Council works hard to create great inclusive community spaces within our parks, so we have arranged for this to be removed as soon as possible.”

A woman who came across the graffiti on Saturday morning (April 29) said she felt bad for the children to see it.

Flora Skouteri said: "Children shouldn't see this sign and think this is acceptable in our world.

"As they get older they should know all the pain and hate we get from racism and also how much some people suffered from people who were racist.

""Also for some people it really brings painful and sad thoughts or experiences.

"This isn't a joke and should not be accepted."