CRIMINAL damage to political campaign signs has been described as “childish” by the chairman of a Furness party.

Colin Rudd, the Ukip chairman for Barrow and Furness, decried graffiti written on the side of a house and on a promotional sign in a front garden.

The vandalism was reported to police on Saturday after two houses in Barrow were targeted.

Red paint was used to daub the word “scum” on one house in Hempland Avenue.

“No Ukip idiots” was sprayed on a house in Woodward Avenue.

Police confirmed they were investigating reports of criminal damage.

Mr Rudd said the police had contacted him to find out the value of the campaign sign.

He said: “At the end of the day, this is criminal damage. It is a childish thing to do.

“Unfortunately it happens to a lot of political parties.

“People should debate their political differences.

“When people resort to things like this, it means they have run out of ideas.”

A 74-year-old woman living at the Woodward Avenue house, who did not want to be named, said she had the sign up in support of friend who was standing as a Ukip councillor and did not vote that way herself.

She said she thought the vandalism was not politically-motivated.

“It’s people who are on the dole and have got nothing better to do," she said.

“It’s awful when you’ve spent 20 years in a house working ion t only for some rat-bag to do damage to it.”

She said she was aware of Labour party placards close by that had also been targeted.

“Apart from this, it is a nice area to live in," she said.

The daughter of the woman, who also lives at the house, said: “I think it’s disgusting behaviour. Everyone is entitled to their political opinion and should not feel intimidated because of it.”

Call police on 101.