A Conservative candidate standing in the general election found a number of his election campaign signs damaged in the days leading up to the poll.

Gary Streeter, who is standing to be re-elected in the South West Devon constituency, took to Twitter to comment that vandals had damaged a number of his election campaign placards.

The vandalism has ranged from signs being ripped apart, having a picture of Jeremy Corbyn’s face stuck over them, to them being removed completely.

Mr Streeter described the vandalism as “unpleasant forces at work”. He previously claimed on social media that over 50% of his posters had either been “removed, destroyed or daubed with socialist slogans”.

Gary Streeter has been the MP for South West Devon since 1997, but has served as an MP since 1992.

The damaged signs have since been replaced.