Vandals have painted swastikas on the side of a church in Melton Mowbray. 

St Mary’s Church – which operates as part of the Diocese of Leicester – has strongly condemned the graffiti, which was painted shortly before Holocaust Memorial Day. 

The vandals attacked the front of the Grade – I listed building, making the graffiti clear for all to see as they enter the building. 

Another piece, believed to be the Star of David, has also been sprayed on the place of worship. 

The incident is believed to have happened just two days before a funeral was due to take place. 

In a statement on their website, The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said: "The Church of England stands against all forms of antisemitism. In this week when we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, we are mindful of the suffering of Jewish people and want to reiterate our support for Jewish friends and colleagues.

"We condemn this act of vandalism and will cooperate with the authorities as they respond to it. We offer our support to colleagues in the churches and wider community in Melton as we stand united against hatred and prejudice in all their forms."

January 27 marks 77-years since the closure of Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

The momorial day has been marked by a number of churches across the UK.

Just days ago – on the 80th anniversary of the Wannsee conference - the Archbishop of Canterbury warned Christians that they must be “vigilant” against a  “volcano of anti-Semitism”, saying that they have a duty to stand up for the rights of other faiths, or risk losing their own.