WEED killer wielding vandals etched the letters RIP on a former councillor’s lawn, with its discovery coming just a fortnight after a death threat was scrawled on his kitchen window.

John Marr was horrified when he found the words ‘step down or die’ on his back window on the run up to the Spennymoor Town Council elections.

The Northern Echo: SHOCK: Spenny-moor Town Councillor John Marr woke to discover this threat on his kitchen window

The Labour stalwart had been standing for re-election for the seventh time and was shocked to see someone “stoop so low.”

But it appears the graffiti may not have been the only act of vandalism that occurred at his Gerard Street home that night.

Yesterday morning (Monday), the 81-year-old discovered the letters RIP had appeared on his back lawn, most likely caused by weed killer.

“It takes some time to take effect so I imagine it was done on the same night,” said Mr Marr, who his lost his seat on the council on Saturday.

“I feel terrible about it. They’ve trespassed on my property and they had to go all the way round to the back to do this. I have lived here since 1961 and I’ve never had any trouble.

“I wasn’t re-elected this year and I accept that, it’s what the people want, but I’ve never done anything to hurt anybody. I love Spennymoor and I love the people of Spennymoor. I’ve always tried to help people.”

The Spennymoor elections were among the most dramatic in the county, with Labour losing its majority to the Spennymoor Independents People Before Politics (SIPBP). Previously made up of 17 Labour councillors, one independent and four SIPBP, the council has been turned on its head with 17 SPIBP seats, three Labour, one Liberal Democrat and one Independent.

Cllr Marr’s family had not been keen on him standing for re-election this year as he recently lost his wife of 57 years, Irene, and has had health problems

His daughter Sandra Hall said: “I’ve just said to my dad ‘if that is politics you are better off out of it.’ I’ve never known anything like it. It’s absolutely wicked.”

Anyone with information about the vandalism should contact Durham Police via 101 quoting incident 89 of April 26.