POSTERS put up by political parties ahead of the general election have been ripped down.

In Evesham over the past week several Labour and Lib Dem posters, displayed on private property overlooking major roads, have been removed, damaged or destroyed.

David Haslam, Chair of the Evesham Labour Party, said: ‘It is extremely sad that the kind of harsh rhetoric in this election, with the constant refrain of ‘Get Brexit Done’ has been so divisive. Let us hope that after Thursday’s election we can address the real problems of our country, especially the growing poverty and the desperate state of our public services.’

Helen Russell, Labour’s candidate for Mid Worcestershire, said: ‘Our message of hope, fairness and democratic accountability will not be so easily quashed. But the action of these vandals shows clearly that the danger to our democracy is very real."