Police have been left “horrified” after swastikas were found sprayed on signs that urged people to "stay home and protect the NHS" during the coronavirus pandemic.

A number of yellow “car park closed” signs along the coast between Seaton Sluice, in Northumberland, and Whitley Bay, in North Tyneside, were targeted overnight by vandals.

At least five locations over a two-mile stretch were defaced, including a sign saying “Car park closed, stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives”.

The signs were put in place to inform the public that car parks leading to beaches in the area had been closed amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Council teams were sent out to clean off the swastikas.

Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs Show all 10 1 /10 Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs Swastikas have been spray painted on signs telling the public to "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives" and informing them that car parks are closed near beaches along the Northumberland coast amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This image captured on 30 April 2020 show signs near St Mary's Lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, while others were also vandalised at Seaton Sluice, The Briar Dene pub car park, and Old Hartley. Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A worker removes a swastika spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road and car park near Whitley Bay lighthouse, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A swastika spray painted on a sign informing the public that car park is closed near the beach at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A swastika spray painted on a sign informing the public that car park is closed near the beach at the Briar Dene car park in Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A police car blocks the road where a swastika has been spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road and car park near Whitley Bay lighthouse, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A worker removes a swastika spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road and car park near Whitley Bay lighthouse, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A swastika spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road and car park near Whitley Bay lighthouse, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A worker removes a swastika spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road and car park near Whitley Bay lighthouse, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A swastika spray painted on a sign informing the public that car park is closed near the beach at Old Hartley, near Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA Swastikas sprayed on 'protect the NHS' signs A swastika spray painted on a sign at the entrance to a closed road near the beach at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. Graffiti has appeared on signs at several car parks along the Northumberland coastal road as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 30, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys/PA

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Whilst on patrol in the Blyth Road, Whitley Bay area, one of our special constables was horrified to come across two swastikas spray painted on to car park closure signs at the car park approaching St Mary’s Lighthouse.”

The force urged anyone with information to send details to the “Report an Incident” section of the Northumbria Police website.