Climate change campaigners have distanced themselves from a rash of political graffiti that appeared throughout the town centre overnight on Sunday.

Scrawled in environmentally-unfriendly red, green and black paint, the messages, on the face of it supporting the climate change lobby, were anti-capitalism and some included more sinister anarchic symbols.

Targets appeared random and included:

Alton Town Hall

Salvation Army Church

The Leathern Bottle

Boots

Travelbag

Wetherspoons (The Ivy House)

Westbrooke Alley

St Lawrence School

Two ancient and historic walls alongside burial grounds at the Quaker Meeting House and St Lawrence Church.

Described by Alton Town Council leader Pam Jones as “mindless vandalism,” speculation among outraged residents is that whoever carried out this criminal activity is both literate and politically motivated.

Said Cllr Jones: “I am appalled at such wanton vandalism – no community-minded organisation would condone such behaviour in their name.”

Police are now examining town centre CCTV to try to identify the perpetrators, and any landowners who have their own footage are asked to make contact.

The act has been condemned by Alton councillor Ginny Boxall.

She made a plea to the perpetrators to get involved in a more positive way.

“As climate champion I support the emergency but not graffiti which does nothing but put people’s backs up,” she said.

“Please get involved in other ways like supporting the Alton Society town centre litter pick this Saturday. Or join ACAN (Alton Climate Action and Network) and find real solutions to the climate change issue, but please don’t daub graffiti all over our town which already supports the climate emergency.

“You are preaching to a town council already doing their bit for the environment.”

Local ACAN leader Eleanor Hill, who is active in the Extinction Rebellion campaign, has also condemned the graffiti, agreeing with Cllr Boxall that while the perpetrators may be passionate about climate change, there were better ways to make their voice heard.

In an act of community spirit, Robin Thorne of Kemp and Stevens undertakers took a team of staff out on Tuesday to try to remove some of the graffiti using chemicals, donated by Alton Bolt and Tool, and tapping into residents’ water supplies for a high-pressure hose.

Targeting places of worship first, they were able to remove the graffiti from some unpainted surfaces.