ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Thugs have vandalised memorials to the heroes of RAF Bomber Command and Sir Winston Churchill in central London.

Police are investigating after the two statues were defaced.

Pictures from the Bomber Command memorial in Green Park show it daubed with white paint which was hurled by the vandals.

A memorial to Sir Winston Churchill was also targeted.

The Bomber Command sculpture was unveiled by the Queen in June 2012 and commemorates the 55,573 airmen who were killed during the Second World War.

It is the fourth time the memorial has been vandalised in six years.

The image was posted to social media by sparking outrage online.

Jess wrote: “Awful, senseless vandalism. Such an important memorial. Hope they lock up the perpetrators.”

While Stephen Pringle said: “Paint can be cleaned, the sacrifice made by the young men of BC ensures, and will endure.”

Chief Executive of the RAF Benevolent Fund Air Vice-Marshal David Murray said: “The RAF Benevolent Fund is proud to serve as guardians of the Memorial, built to commemorate the 55,573 members of Bomber Command who died in its service during the Second World War.

“This is the worst example of vandalism we have seen at the Memorial and it is utterly heart-breaking to see the memory of all those brave airmen disrespected in this way.

"This despicable act took just moments but will take considerable time and resources to put right. But like the remarkable men who the Memorial commemorates, we will not rest until we have finished the job.

“CCTV footage from the area has been passed to police to assist with their investigation.”

Royal Parks confirmed that the statues were one of two sites vandalised over the weekend.

The Canada Memorial, also in Green Park, was vandalised over the weekend. It commemorates members of the Candian Forces killed during the First and Second World Wars.