In a show of unity in Burnley, volunteers have turned out to help clean up Muslim graves that were daubed with paint at a cemetery.

The discovery was made on Monday morning with images and footage from the scene showing a row of headstones vandalised in the Muslim section of Burnley cemetery.

Police and Burnley Council are said to be investigating the incident which comes following a week of disturbances and violent racist protests across the country.

It is unclear if the vandalism is related to the ongoing incidents across the region.

Police have launched an investigation and Burnley Council condemned the actions of 'evil individuals'.

On Monday evening people from across the community gathered to clean the headstones.

The council revealed people from all faiths had come out to help clean the headstones. A further deep clean will also take place.

Father Alex Frost and Kat Gregory-Witham said: “We are appalled with what we’ve witnessed and we’re heartbroken that families from our Muslim communities have had to face some terrible scenes in the cemetery.

“Imagine that if this was a grave for one of your loved ones? Nothing will divide us, and your evil actions are not welcome here. I encourage the people of Burnley to seek the common good and to act with love and peace.”

Muslim graves vandalised with paint at Burnley cemetery

Leader of Burnley Council, Councillor Afrasiab Anwar MBE said in a statement on Monday: "We are working with the police to identify the perpetrator(s) and to ensure they are reprimanded at the earliest opportunity.

"There is CCTV footage at the cemetery which the police are working through, and we are working with the police to ensure a heightened police presence in the area.

"The council have made arrangements for the graves to be cleaned by a specialist memorial mason as a matter of urgency and the affected families are being contacted.

"There are heinous individuals who are looking to provoke a reaction in our communities. With actions like this, it is extremely difficult to remain calm, but I would urge you not to react to the provocation."

A police spokesperson said: "We have launched an investigation after a report of criminal damage in Burnley today (Monday, August 5).

"We were called around 4.15pm to Burnley Cemetery in Rossendale Road after a report paint had been poured across headstones in a Muslim burial area.

"The investigation into this matter is very much ongoing.

"We are taking this matter incredibly seriously and this is being treated as a hate crime.

"We do not tolerate hate of any form and we will do everything in our power to identify the offenders and take the appropriate action.

"Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 0982 of August 5."

In Lancashire, so-called ‘anti-immigration’ protests took place in Preston and Blackburn over the weekend.

In Lancashire 22 people were arrested across the county - 20 of those people were arrested in Blackpool, one person in Blackburn and one in Preston.

Of those 22 detained, 18 have been released on police bail, one has been released under investigation, and three have been charged.