Graffiti slamming NHS and key workers was found sprawled over a wall in Bridgend.
According to local residents, the graffiti once stood as a thank you to the key workers, but was tarnished at some point on Wednesday.
The graffiti read: "F*** you NHS and Key Workers."
Bridgend Council said it had taken swift action to remove the graffiti after it was informed by local residents. The profanity has since been removed, though is still faintly noticeable.
Bridgend councillor Tim Thomas said the graffiti had upset the local pharmacy as well as the local GP surgery.
Mr Thomas said: "I was made aware of the graffiti yesterday afternoon. I was told by a number of local people that efforts had been made to remove the offensive word. However, when I visited the area first thing this morning (Thursday) the graffiti was still visible.
'This highly offensive graffiti is near Tyn Yr Coed surgery and the local pharmacy and a number of key workers are extremely saddened by this profanity. I am calling on BCBC and V2C to act quickly to remove the graffiti to prevent further offence."
Mr Thomas added that a local man had offered to power wash the graffiti and he was attempting to set this up.
A spokesperson for Bridgend County Borough Council said: "Bridgend County Borough Council has taken swift action to remove offensive graffiti which appeared overnight on a wall in Sarn.
"The wall had originally been daubed with a message stating ‘Thank you NHS and key workers’, but was altered to feature an offensive swear word.
"Local residents were quick to inform the council, and the Cleaner Streets team visited the location to remove the offending phrase.
"Arrangements are now being made for the wall to be painted over entirely, and the council is speaking to local organisations to see if a new tribute can be placed there."
Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “When you consider how health and social care staff and other key workers are going above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic, it beggars belief that someone would be so stupid to paint something like this.
“The fact that these workers are placing themselves at great personal risk of exposure to the virus while undertaking such work makes these idiotic remarks all the more offensive.
“I’d like to thank the council’s Cleaner Streets team for acting so quickly to deal with this issue. This disgusting comment was a blight on the neighbourhood, and certainly does not represent the feelings of the people of Sarn for the efforts that our NHS and key workers are continuing to make.”
