DARLINGTON'S MP helped clean up a statue of Winston Churchill that was defaced during the weekend's Black Lives Matter protests in London.

The town's Conservative MP Peter Gibson said: "A number of Conservative MPs were incensed by the desecration if the Churchill statue at the weekend.

"We embarked upon a clean up to remove the graffiti, which was followed up by professional cleaning from Westminster City Council.

"It is despicable that a statue to our greatest Briton, who fought against tyranny and fascism, should be vandalised in this way.

"I know the people of Darlington, and Britons across the country were appalled to see this abuse, seemingly in the name of peaceful protest.

"I’m always happy to roll up my sleeves to get something done, whether that be in Darlington or indeed here in London."

Richmondshire MP, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said via Twitter: "To the small minority who committed acts of violence last weekend, not only were your actions criminal, but they also perpetuate a dangerous lie: that the temporary excitement of destruction is the same thing as change. You are, and always will be, wrong."