A car plastered with anti-Covid publicity has been daubed in paint and had its tyres slashed.

The black Mazda had been left overnight alongside a roundabout on the Isle of Sheppey.

It was parked at the junction of the Lower Road and Barton's Hill Drive, Minster, on Saturday and attacked overnight. Vandals sprayed it with red paint and slashed all four tyres.

A few sightseers turned up on Sunday to take photos and view the damage. Some posted them on social media.

Among them was Helen Cooper. She said: "People didn't need to do this. They may not agree with what he has to say but this is not the way to do it. It's disgusting what they have done to his car."

Gary Townsend also stopped. He said: "This geezer is just trying to get a message across. As far as I am concerned he's a hero.

"I've seen him driving the car through Sittingbourne and bibbing his horn to raise awareness. It's a real shame to see this done to his car. It must have been done by ignorant people. They are just idiots.

"The chap is just passionate about what he believes. He's not doing any harm to anyone."

The car is owned by Daniel Bygraves, 41, from Warden Bay who also has an anti-Covid red Mini.

The Mazda was plastered with anti-Covid propaganda and had been signed by a number of supporters of the anti-mask campaign.

Large white plastic letters on the bonnet spell out: 'The greatest trick government ever pulled was convincing the country you can be sick without symptoms.'

The boot features the message: 'Say no to masks' and 'Common law don't consent to contract under Strawman.'

Over the wheel arches was the slogan: 'Get up, stand up for your rights, don't give up the fight.'

On the driver's door was a hand-coloured poster saying: 'Our power is when we unite. Our strength is in numbers.' Another message on the passenger door said: 'A virus so dangerous you have to be tested to even know you have it.'

Another commenter on Facebook said: "This is the small scale of what's to come... believers against non-believers.

"Everyone should be able to think independently. This was a person's non-violent protest and it wasn't hurting anybody. It was their opinion.

"If someone had opposing opinion they should have put another car or sign or whatever... not used vandalism to undermine it."

Mr Bygrave's car caused distressed to Emerald Ivory, 22, when she saw it parked in outside Sittingbourne library in March.

She said: “In January I lost my grandad and hadn’t been able to see him in more than a year as it was too dangerous to visit him. I’d give anything to have been able to see him and give him a hug before he passed.

“It’s so frustrating to see people trying to spread misinformation about something so serious as it really can endanger lives during a situation that too many aren’t taking seriously."

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