Conservative election signs ripped up and graffitied in incidents across the South Ribble constituency

Conservative Party placards have been targeted across the constituency south of the River Ribble this Monday, with the majority of damage taking place off the A59 through Hutton, Banks, and Much Hoole, as well as in the more southern village of Mawdesley.

Penwortham resident Andrew Pratt, who is an active campaigner for South Ribble Tory candidate Katherine Fletcher, said: “They’ve not exactly all been blown off in the wind. Some will get blown away because they flap around in the wind but when you wind them ripped in half you know its about more than just that.

Three Conservative Party signs placed were placed opposite Howick CE Primary School near Hutton, but two have been reported as disappearing with just the pole and a segment of one remaining.

This week’s incidents are not the first, with Andrew revealing that he has found vandalism on four separate occasions with 20 signs targeted.

And it comes just days after the South Ribble Labour Party reported that 40 of its own signs were damaged or stolen from 20 sites in the Western parishes of the constituency.

He said: “I started putting some up on the November 27 and a day later some were damaged.

"On December 2 there was some more damaged that we had to replaced.

“It’s not good for democracy.

"We want people to discuss and argue about politics; this is not acceptable.”