Racist graffiti found scrawled on properties in Balham last week has been condemned by community leaders.

The graffiti which insults people from Pakistan which was spotted on Thursday morning on shops and in residential areas between Hazelbourne road and Faraday House, in Balham Hill.

Travis Perkins, next to Faraday House, had the message daubed repeatedly across its store-front.

Other businesses and walls on the same side of the road were also targeted.

The council's graffiti removal team was called out last  week to remove identical messages from the area.

In one instance, the culprit repeated the same slogans just hours after it had been painted over by council staff.

The messages were all written in similar handwriting using a marker pen. Local residents and business owners say that this is the first incident of racist graffiti in the area in recent times.

MP Sadiq Khan said: "It's very distressing that such racist incidents are occurring in Balham, where we have traditionally had good relations between the different parts of our community.

"Racism is never acceptable, under any circumstances, and we need to be united in our condemnation of it.

"This sort of graffiti can be poisonous to a community. Those responsible must be under no illusion - 'you will not divide us'".

"I echo the appeals from Wandsworth Police and Wandsworth Council to anyone who has any information on this disgusting behaviour - if you know who is doing this, please come forward."

Yesterday, a multi-faith peace ceremony took place outside Tooting Broadway station to celebrate the borough's diverse communities.

The event, organised by Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA), saw faiths ranging from Muslim to Jewish being represented at the vigil.

Anybody who witnesses racist graffiti are asked to call the council on 020 8871 7049 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111