A town’s war memorial has been defaced with a Nazi symbol, sparking anger among residents.

This year marks the centenary of the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek and its desecration with a swastika has been widely condemned by people in the Staffordshire market town.

The monument bears the names of more than 500 men and woman whose lives were sacrificed in conflict.

“It’s part of the town, and to desecrate it sacrilegiously in that way is outrageous,” said Derek Hilyer, chair of the Leek War Memorial Committee.

The vandalism came to light over the weekend, but it is unclear precisely when it happened.

One woman speaking to BBC Midlands Today described the people responsible as “disgusting”.

She said: “They’ve got no respect for the fallen, no respect for the people that are serving our country now.”

Another resident described vandalism which had no respect for those who fought for their country as “extremely sad”.

“That monument’s been there for a long, long time. I think it’s awful,” another woman added.

The monument has since been cleaned and the incident is being investigated by police.

The Staffordshire force said officers were keen to speak to anyone who might have CCTV footage of the vandalism taking place.

The memorial was privately funded by Sir Arthur Nicholson, a prominent figure in the town. He said last century that he hoped it would be cherished and prized for all time.