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A pair of completely innocent men were falsely branded as paedophiles in a cruel poster campaign spotted in St Patrick's Day parade.

Police are investigating the signs, which were spotted by officers during the celebration in Birmingham.

They featured the names and photographs of two men and purported to be from the Digbeth Residents’ Association.

But the group said it had absolutely nothing to do with the posters, which a spokeswoman described as “appalling”.

The organisation also vowed to investigate the source, reports the Birmingham Mail.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Police described the allegations as entirely false and malicious.

Officers said there was concern the men and their families, who were based locally, could now be targeted.

The posters accused the pair of being paedophiles.

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They also called on the community to help “remove them from the area”.

West Midlands Police described the distribution of the malicious posters as a serious offence and said they were being forensically examined.

Ladywood East Sector Insp Will O’Connor said: “Officers patrolling as part of Sunday’s St Patrick’s Day parade noticed several posters dotted around Digbeth naming two local men as child sex offenders.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

“The allegations are entirely false and malicious.

“The two men featuring in the posters have no criminal convictions.

“An investigation has been launched in a bid to find out where the posters originated, while the posters have been seized for forensic examination.

“This is a serious offence.

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“It’s upsetting for two innocent men and their families who are understandably concerned they could be targeted on the back of these false allegations.

“If anyone has any information about who is responsible for the posters I would urge them to contact me on 101.”

In a tweet posted on Sunday, the Digbeth Residents' Association said: “We’ve been made aware of appalling posters around Digbeth today bearing our logo.

“They have no affiliation to DRA and we are investigating.”

A spokeswoman for the group added: “We are incredibly concerned that someone or a group of people have been using our logo on posters to encourage anti-social behaviour.

“Digbeth Residents' Association will continue working very closely with police to help investigations in any way we can to resolve this matter, and hopefully find who has been using our logo without permission in a form of ‘passing off’.”

Anybody with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.