A RACIST graffiti attack in a back street in Burnley has been condemned by community leaders.

And a councillor is in no doubt it was part of a misguided backlash after the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby, in Woolwich, last week.

Racist slogans were daubed on a security door, pavements and commercial bin, alongside the initials of the far-right English Defence League and British National Party, behind Cobden Street.

Coun Gary Frayling was told about the graffiti by residents yesterday morning, and was hopeful it would be cleaned off overnight.

He said: “I think there’s a connection with what went on in Woolwich, because of the EDL and how they reacted to it.

“It’s absolutely disgusting.

“It’s not happened here for a long time and suddenly, after what happened to the soldier in Woolwich, this has happened. It must be linked.”

Brian Tomlinson, of Cobden Street, a member of Duke Bar (Friends and Neighbours Together) Group, said: “It hurts me because I know these people and they have done nothing wrong.

“I know these men and they’re very nice men and to call them names like that - it’s very hurtful.

“Nobody deserves this kind of racist abuse and it sickens me that it goes on in the community I was born in.”

Mohammed Arif, of Cleaver Street, said: “It’s just awful that people will say and do things like this.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle, who was also alerted to the graffiti, said: “Let’s hope that nothing more comes of this.

“We are a peaceful community in Burnley and we want it to remain that way.

“I have received a letter from leading members of the Islamic community in Burnley stating that they were horrified at what went on in Woolwich.”

Coun Shah Hussain, who represents nearby Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward, said: “Last week all the mosques in Burnley condemned what happened in Woolwich, and everyone was shocked and appalled.

“This was carried out by people with twisted minds and ideas, and nothing to do with Islam.”