Now Ukip member's campaign posters defaced in Ludlow campaign
More election campaign posters have been defaced in the Ludlow and South Shropshire constituency.
This time it has been Ukip's turn to bear the brunt of criminal damage, though Lib Dem signs have also been reportedly removed.
The vandalism follows an open letter signed by four of the five constituency candidates urging voters to use their vote to make their feelings known rather than deface campaign material.
The letter came after multiple billboards for Tory candidate Philip Dunne, standing for re-election as MP, were defaced
Ukip campaigner Richard Plowden, who spotted the damage to the party's own posters, said there had been more than one wave of vandalism. He said signs were first daubed with swastikas, which was registered as criminal damage by West Mercia Police, before
billboards were torn down.
He said: "Several posters along the A489 where torn down and slashed to pieces. All this damage took place on the road between Bishop's Castle and Craven Arms, however, it is not an isolated event."
David Kelly, Ukip candidate for the Ludlow constituency, said: "All of the candidates feel the same way, which is that this is totally unnecessary and pointless, and against free speech and democracy.
"In a democratic society all political parties should be able to present their policies and voters can make their response known in the ballot box."
Lib Dem Shropshire councillor for Ludlow South, Vivienne Parry, said signs for her party's candidate, Charlotte Barnes, had also been removed from household gardens in Ludlow.
Mr Kelly, Mr Dunne, Mrs Barnes and Labour's Simon Slater all signed a letter put out by Mr Dunne's office in response to the vandalism of his posters between Craven Arms and Much Wenlock last week.
Follow the election campaign six days a week in the Shropshire Star newspaper, round the clock on at shropshirestar.com/election where we will carry breaking news and by signing up to our email newsletter.
