Vandals have daubed graffiti, including a swastika over children's play equipment.

The sinister Nazi symbol was spray-painted onto a slide at Jacksons Recreation Ground in Rochester.

Shocked parents turned up at the play area in New Road with their children to be confronted with the vandalism.

It is believed one tried to rub off the disgusting marks, which included obscenities, with nail polish.

The incident took place just yards away from the war memorial in Victoria Gardens.

A member of staff at the nearby City Way Nursery, who did not wish to be named, said the little ones use the park in the warmer months for activities..

She said: “I am shocked. We have been using Jackson’s for years and I have never heard of anything like this. Let’s hope this is a first and last time.”

Dalia Halpern-Matthews, a leading member of the tight-knit Jewish community was also outraged.

Mrs Halpern-Matthews, who belongs to the Chatham Memorial Synagogue, wrote on Facebook: “It is almost beyond belief that this is happening. Not just in the US, but across the world.

"Over recent months we have had human excrement left on the steps to our synagogue: just this weekend someone spray-painted a swastika on a children’s playground. Where does this hate come from and how can we make it go away.”

A Medway Council spokesperson said: “Our cleansing team attended the site on Monday morning and removed the graffiti.”