Sir Bobby Robson memorial stone graffiti attack Published duration 19 March 2012

image caption Graffiti was removed from the memorial stone on Monday morning

A memorial stone in a garden dedicated to former Newcastle and England manager Sir Bobby Robson has been defaced.

It is thought the graffiti was drawn on to the central stone on Sunday and the stone was cleaned on Monday morning.

The garden was opened on Gallowgate, in Newcastle, close to St James' Park, in May last year.

Liz Luff, from the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, tweeted that she was "absolutely furious" about the graffiti.

The garden includes a series of stones featuring images to celebrate Sir Bobby's career.

A cleaner from Newcastle City Council removed the graffiti on Monday morning.

The foundation was set up in 2008 and works with scientists at Newcastle University to help develop cancer treatments.