Vandals have desecrated a Jewish memorial statue with raw meat in an apparent anti-Semitic attack in London.

A drinking fountain, paid for by local Jewish residents to honour Edward VII in the early 20th century, in Whitechapel, east London, was seen covered in chicken and slabs of red meat on Thursday morning.

The inscription on the sculpture, designed by William Silver Frith, says: “In grateful and loyal memory of Edward VII, Rex et Imperator, Erected by subscriptions raised by Jewish inhabitants of East London, 1911.”

Lauren Justice, who took pcitures of the statue, posted the images online saying:

She told the Evening Standard: "I was just coming into Whitechapel for work this morning - usually I do not see the memorial because it is concealed by market stalls, but today it was just covered in meat.

"I just think it is disgusting. It is a memorial. I do not know if they think it is funny or what, but it cannot be allowed to stay up like that. I find it offensive."

The memorial commerorates Edward VII and was paid for by Jewish residents of the East End

A spokeswoman for Tower Hamlets Council thanked Ms Justice on Twitter for alerting them to the issue and said it would be cleaned up shortly.