Sick vandals have trashed a memorial to Fusilier Lee Rigby in a horrifying attack just days before the fourth anniversary of his murder.

The heartless thugs even ripped down a teddy bear left there by Lee's six-year-old son Jack at the memorial in Woolwich, south east London.

Detectives have set up a police cordon after memorial flags were damaged overnight - with some possibly stolen.

Scroll down for video

Sick vandals have ransacked a memorial to Fusilier Lee Rigby in a sickening attack just days ahead of the fourth anniversary of his murder

Thugs even ripped down a teddy bear left there by Lee's little son Jack (pictured with his mother Rebecca and Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace last week during a tea party to honour the children of those who have died serving in the armed forces)

The heartless offenders are believed to have struck overnight, targeting the memorial flags which were displayed on railings.

The memorial was placed outside the Royal Artillery Barracks, near where the 25-year-old soldier was brutally killed.

Extremists Michael Adebowale, 25, was jailed for 45 years and accomplice Michael Adebolajo, 32, was jailed for life for killing the off-duty soldier near his barracks on May 22, 2013.

The pair knocked him down with a car before hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives.

Police officers are conducting reassurance patrols in the area following the act of vandalism.

Forensics officers are at the scene and have sealed off the area on the boundary wall of a block of flats.

The attack is the second on the site since Christmas after a flag was taken in January.

Detectives have set up a police cordon after memorial flags were damaged overnight - with some possibly stolen

The memorial was placed outside the Royal Artillery Barracks, near where the 25-year-old soldier was brutally killed

Lee Rigby (left), 25, was off-duty when he was hacked to death by Michael Adebowale, 25, Michael Adebolajo, 32, with meat cleavers near his barracks on May 22, 2013. Pictured right, his wife Rebecca and son Jack

Lorna Taylor, 49, a friend of Lee's mother Lyn, who has campaigned for a permanent memorial in the town and has organised a series of events on Sunday and Monday to mark Lee's murder said she was heartbroken.

She revealed police have asked her if she thought the attack could be racist.

Ms Taylor, from Woolwich also revealed that a teddy left at the scene by Lee's little son Jack had also been pulled off and thrown over a wall.

The area is a shrine to the fusilier and veterans and other well-wishers leave Tee shirts, cuddly toys and other banners in honour of the soldier at the spot where he was murdered.

Ms Taylor said: 'I am disgusted.I can't believe anyone would want to do this. It's heart breaking.

'They have slashed everything down with a knife even a memorial banner to Lee we had specially made.

'Everything has been slashed down with a knife. Even a teddy left by Lee's son Jack has been cut down and thrown over a wall.

'The police asked me if I thought it could be racist - but I don't know. It could be anyone.

The attack is the second on the site since Christmas after a flag was taken in January

Forensics officers are at the scene and have sealed off the area on the boundary wall of a block of flats

'Why on earth would anyone want to do this? It is totally disrespectful.

'I haven't had the heart to call Lyn ands tell her. She's going to be distraught that someone has done this.'

She added: 'We have got lots of people coming to pay their respects this weekend.

'It's clearly been done with the anniversary in mind.'

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Police were called at 11:44hrs on Thursday, May 18 to a report that flags at the Lee Rigby memorial in Hillreach, Charlton, SE15 - opposite the Royal Artillery Barracks - had been damaged, with some possibly stolen.

'Officers have attended and are making enquiries; a crime scene is in place.

'It is believed that the memorial was damaged sometime overnight on Wednesday, May 17 into Thursday, May 18.

'Local officers will be conducting reassurance patrols.'

Lee's name appears on a plaque at the refurbished St George's Chapel in Woolwich - a chapel of the town's army barracks which was destroyed by a doodle bug in World War Two.

It was refurbished in 2015 and now acts as a permanent memorial to those from the town who died in conflict.