Swastika symbols and offensive language were spray painted on to garages and cars in Amersham and Chesham during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Between 2:30 and 6am 16 cars and vans were vandalised with either black or gold paint in The Spinney, The Braid, Codmore Crescent and White Hill.

Signs at Chesham Grammar School and Chesham Leisure Centre, both on White Hill, have also been covered in graffiti, and offensive language was sprayed on to the garage door of a home on the same road.

In each of the cases the paint has been cleaned off.

Sgt James Ellis from Chesham Police Station, said: "Whilst these incidents are being linked, we do not believe that the victims have been specifically targeted, which I hope will reassure members of the local community.

"They have, however, caused distress and inconvenience to a number of local residents. Not only have the vehicle owners been left with the burden of having to remove the paint but, given the nature of some of the graffiti and symbols used, they have been left unable to use their vehicles.

This comes after terrified residents discovered disturbing CD's on their doorsteps earlier this month, which are said to have contained pornographic content and images of beheadings and animal slaughtering.

Police are asking that anyone with information in relation to any of the incidents to call 101 and quote the URN 309 of September 27.