'I don't know why people are being targeted, it's horrible'

A MUM has today told of her horror at waking to find her home covered in racist graffiti, after several properties were targeted in an overnight spate of hate.

- SOPHIE DOUGHTY

Red crosses were painted on the doors of a number of homes, in Birtley, Gateshead, with messages also written on fences.

It is understood a wall at the front of Barley Mow Primary School was also defaced. Police say they are treating the vandalism as a "hate crime".

And today one of the victim's, who had a cross painted on her door and the words “This is England” scrawled across her fence, has told how the incidents have left her living in fear.

The 44-year-old said: “It is frightening. It's worrying for the kids to see it and we are worried because they are walking to school alone.”

The mum-of-four, who asked not to be named, was born in India and has lived in the UK for around four years. The woman, who works as a senior carer, says she has never suffered any prejudice since moving to the country and had previously felt safe in Birtley.