A COMMUNITY has hit out at an anonymous person who targeted a business with a racist poster in the wake of the terrorist attack in Manchester last month.

An unknown person stuck a poster on the window of a shop in Liverton Mines, east Cleveland, claiming that the business owner was somehow connected with the atrocity.

Now members of Loftus Town Council have hit back at the behaviour of whoever was responsible.

Councillor Wayne Davies, vice-chairman of Loftus Town Council as well as one of the Loftus Ward members for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said the action was unacceptable and did not reflect the beliefs of the vast majority of local residents.

He said: “There is no place for this kind of behaviour in our community. Hopefully, it was just one ill-informed individual whose actions do not reflect the feeling in the area.

“This business has been in the village for as long as I can remember and they really are part of the community – there is no excuse for what happened.

“I was mortified by what happened, this business is looking to continue investing in the village by possibly bringing back a Post Office which will be for the benefit of the entire community.

“All the people I have spoken too are really upset by what has happened. If this is the action of a misguided teenager, hopefully, their parents will be able to show them the error of their ways.”

The parish council took to social media to get its message across that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in their community.

A spokesman said: “We live in a diverse and tolerant society. Loftus Town Council unequivocally condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. We reassure all people living in this area that they are all valued members of our community.”

The racist behaviour was trying to connect the family to the suicide bomber who killed 22 people when he targeted an Ariana Grande concert on May 22.

In response the American singer organised a benefit concert at the city’s Old Trafford cricket ground last weekend when an array of stars took to the stage to raise money for victims of the attack.

Thousands of people, including many of the survivors of the attack, watched stars performing on stage including Coldplay and Take That.