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Anti-covid stickers appear on Sheerness beach

A spate of anti-covid stickers have appeared on Sheerness seafront during the latest coronavirus lockdown.

One, attached to a dog waste sign, is a spoof Not My Government poster with a hand, face, embrace logo under the title "We must never stop loving each other."

Anti-covid stickers on Sheerness beach
Anti-covid stickers on Sheerness beach

It offers the alternative advice to "live life", "ditch the mask" and "choose love".

Another, slapped on a second post, says: "If you repeat a lie often enough it becomes the truth."

The Banksy-style illustration includes the word "Covid-19" written in red ink.

The stickers were spotted by Swale council's seafront manager Ian Arnell who posted photos of them on the Sheppey Beach Users Forum Facebook page.

He wrote: "To the person/s who have been putting these stickers on our signs - please stop. My job prevents me from saying what I truly think but what I can say is that you've obviously not experienced the true horror of Covid yet."

Anti-covid stickers on Sheerness beach
Anti-covid stickers on Sheerness beach

A Swale council spokesman said: "We understand not everyone agrees with the overwhelming scientific evidence for how to prevent needless illness and death. If people have different opinions on how the pandemic is being managed, they are free to express them in lawful ways.

“Defacing public property with stickers or posters is not legal and we will remove any materials we find, whether they express fringe views or more mainstream beliefs.”

Similar stickers have also been appearing across the water at Southend.

One said: "Staying human is more important than living in fear" and urged readers to "stay free", "ditch the muzzle" and proclaimed "The media is the virus."

Mr Arnell added: "My team and I are removing them when we see them on Sheppey. But we are never going to find them all."

Swale council's seafront manager Ian Arnell
Swale council's seafront manager Ian Arnell

To report any fly-posting on public land in Swale visit the council's website www.swale.gov.uk/report-fly-posting.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey

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