There is no place in Bordon for the vandals who daubed a Bordon underpass with racist graffiti.

That’s the belief of community figures after several “upsetting” and highly offensive messages were sprayed on the walls of the Camp Road underpass.

It is thought the anti-Muslim and pro-UKIP messages are aimed at Afghans who are being temporarily housed in MOD properties on nearby Trenchard Park.

The Afghans living in transitional accommodation are part of a “select group” who endangered themselves to help UK armed forces in their homeland.

Most of the graffiti – which is not suitable for publication – is confined to the steps and ramp on the Post Office side of the underpass.

But arguably the worst message has been daubed close to the underground mural which marks Bordon’s military links and Remembrance.

Imam Adeel Shah, who is a prominent member of the Ahmadiyya community in addition to being a district and town councillor, said he was flooded with offers of help and support within hours of the graffiti appearing.

He said: “When I made my post on social media about the graffiti within seconds people were contacting me.

“I don’t think it’s directed at my (Ahmadiyya) community and I think it’s directed towards the Afghans, but it’s still a very sad thing and it’s upsetting.

“I sat with five of them not long ago and one of them told me their uncle was killed for helping the British Army. Another was threatened for being a translator. They helped us.”

Ray Wilson, a Bordon resident who lives off Chalet Hill and who was walking through the area on Wednesday morning, called the graffiti “dreadful”.

He said: “It’s sad to see and you’ve got to wonder. I just hope they find who did it.”

Whitehill Town Council leader, Cllr Andy Tree, called the graffiti “awful”.

He added: “The overwhelming majority of residents in Whitehill & Bordon are good people but it only takes one person out of 15,000 to do something like this and it’s very disappointing and upsetting.”

Numerous residents have offered to paint over the offensive graffiti but have told to hold off in case the police need to gather evidence.

The police and Hampshire County Council have been informed and are aware of the graffiti, which will eventually be cleaned up by the latter.

Anyone with any information should call Hampshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 44250131528 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.