A STRIKING mural honouring the 'heroes of Palestine' has been defaced in an 'awful act' that has led to calls to stop hate and division in Worcester. 

Vandals have scrawled over the mural dedicated to honouring Palestinian journalists in Silver Street, Lowesmoor.

The face of a Palestinian journalist has been sprayed all over while expletives have also been written over the wall. 

Vandals have also sprayed the word 'England' over the 'Heroes of Palestine' text and defaced another part of the wall containing the words 'All Eyes on Gaza.'

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Worcester City Council leader Cllr Lynn Denham claims the mural has previously come under attack on social media. 

However, it is unknown who is behind the vandalism of the mural. 

West Mercia Police said the incident has not been reported to them.

Cllr Denham told the Worcester News: "I know the mural has been the focus of a far-right activist on social media who has verbally attacked it but it is absolutely awful people have defaced this like that. 

"Worcester is a peaceful place and we have communities of all different backgrounds that live together, we don't want this kind of hate and division. 

"We just don't want behaviour like this in Worcester, it is a lovely place and things like this just don't belong here.

"We love and celebrate everyone who lives in Worcester, it's a wonderfully diverse city."

It champions brave journalists who have put their lives on the line to show the world the reality of life in Gaza, depicting the portraits of reporters Lama Jamous and Noor Harazeen. 

The artwork appeared in March amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. 

The mural has been criticised since it was created with Lib Dem councillors saying 'many residents' had expressed concern about it. 

Green councillors have previously campaigned to keep the mural, while Labour's city council leader Lynn Denham and deputy leader Jabba Riaz said tearing it down would be a 'provocative act'. 

The Worcester News contacted the Worcester Palestine Solidarity Campaign about the mural's vandalism but the group declined to comment.