A MAN is “raising the alarm” after finding “unacceptable” Nazi vandalism plastered crudely on a tree.

Paul Vousden, from Leytonstone, was walking home with his wife on Friday (February 17) when he discovered a Nazi swastika made from pieces of chewing gum on a tree.

Not wanting it on show any longer, the couple quickly returned with tools to remove the crude vandalism.

Posting a before and after picture on a community Facebook group, Mr Vousden condemned the vandal’s actions reminding members “this is not who we are”.

The incident comes a week after new police figures revealed a 20 per cent rise in the number of hate crimes in London since Britain voted to leave the EU.

Some 3,356 crimes were reported to Scotland Yard between July and September, following the June 23 vote, the highest quarterly number since figures began in April 2012.

Mr Vousden said he thinks recording hate crimes is important because “we are at risk of it getting out of hand”.

He added: “We live in precarious times.”

While the Leytonstone resident hoped it was just the actions of kids messing around, he said “once is too much, once is unacceptable”.

He said: “I am raising the alarm now, because this kind of thing cannot be allowed to grow because it spreads quicker than you or I can imagine.

“I'd rather stamp this out immediately than let it grow.

“How many swastikas are acceptable?

“The answer is none. If you allow one, then you allow two, then three and so on.

“It's very easy for hate and intolerance to spread so we all need to stand-up and say no now before it takes hold.”