Headstones in a Jewish cemetery have been destroyed in a "sickening" attack which police are treating as a hate crime.

Fourteen headstones were knocked over and smashed at the Blackley Jewish Cemetery in north Manchester.

The same cemetery was previously targeted by vandals in 2014, when more than 40 gravestones were vandalised and sprayed with offensive graffiti.

Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said: "This is a sickening act of criminal damage which we are taking very seriously.

“I believe this was a deliberate and targeted attack and there is no place for such abhorrent behaviour in our communities."

Police were called to the cemetery in Rochdale Road, Charlestown at 3.45pm on Wednesday following reports that graves had been damaged.

CS Chaudhry said: "To have those graves desecrated in such a disgusting and disrespectful way will no doubt cause immeasurable anguish to the families and loved ones affected.

"I cannot begin to get into the mind of someone who would commit such an atrocity. I know this will cause a lot of anxiety and distress in the local community and we as police officers and my colleagues at Manchester City Council share that distress.

"We will do everything we can to find out who is responsible and bring the full force of the law down on them."

He added that the incident had been recorded as a hate crime "because of the clear racial motivation".

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call 0161 856 3521, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.