A spate of anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic graffiti which appeared on cars and garages in Canvey Island is being treated as a hate crime.
Essex Police are investigating eight reports of the graffiti, which was spread across three streets in the early hours of Remembrance Sunday.
Officers are making door-to-door visits to reassure residents, visiting more than 250 houses on Sunday.
Sergeant Victoria Jarvis, of Castle Point and Rochford’s Community Policing Team, said the incident marked “an incredibly sad day” for Canvey Island.
She added: “We’ve been working closely with local residents today to raise awareness of hate crime, gather information, and have maintained a visible presence in the area to deter any further criminal activity.”