Police have confirmed they are investigating the anti-Islamic graffiti, which appeared outside a West Watford school this week, as well as another similar earlier incident in Garston.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said it was appealing for witnesses after the phrase "Quran is rubbish" was painted outside Chater Infants School, in Harwoods Road, at some point over the weekend.

Officers are also looking into an incident where "f*** Islam" was painted on a crash barrier in Falcon Way, Garston, around June 1.

This week Watford’s elected mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, condemned the graffiti and said Watford Borough Council, which oversees the clean-ups, had a "no tolerance" policy.

Mayor Thornhill said: "I am thankful it is very rare in Watford. We have a no tolerance policy on racist and hate graffiti and that continues.

"In a town like Watford you are going to get people who harbour these types of views. But it is certainly not tolerated by the majority and most people will not condone it."

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Hertfordshire Constabulary on its non-emergency telephone number 101.