The Hawkesbury Memorial Garden in Buckley, north Wales, was defaced by a vandal (Picture: Daily Post Wales)

A huge swastika was spray-painted onto a First World War memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

The hate symbol was daubed in black across the names of fallen soldiers on the Hawkesbury Memorial Garden in Buckley, north Wales.

A neo-Nazi flag was also left at the foot of the headstone.

The ‘distressing and distasteful’ hate crime happened just hours after locals paid their respects to those who died in both World Wars.

Photos show the infamous anti-Semitic emblem across the memorial with poppy wreaths underneath.

The bouquets were placed as a mark of respect on Armistice Day on November 11.

Buckley councillor David Ellis wrote on social media: ‘I post this with a very heavy heart as I was the project lead on the restoration of the Hawkesbury War Memorial.

‘Last night the memorial was desecrated with a Nazi slogan. This is the ultimate mark of disrespect to those who gave everything.

‘There is CCTV around the area, and it will be checked by the police.’

The swastika has now been removed. Police have appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

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A neo-Nazi flag was left at the foot of the memorial.