POLICE have launched an investigation after a number of racially motivated incidents in Adlington.

Officers are making inquiries after graffiti was daubed on the front of an office belonging to an Asian family in Railway Road and an Indian restaurant had its windows broken.

The initials BNP -- which stand for British National Party -- were scrawled on the building, and further along Railway Road on boards surrounding a housing development.

It is believed the graffiti is not the work of BNP members, but of young local misfits.

On the same night the graffiti was discovered, the Sharju Raj Indian restaurant in Church Street had several windows smashed.

All the incidents are believed to be linked to the same group of youngsters and are thought to be specifically targeted at Adlington's small ethnic community.

Inspector Janet Edmunson, of Wheelton CID, said: "As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment on the individual incidents at this time. But anyone who witnesses racist behaviour of any kind should get in touch with Crimestoppers or their local police station."

The first set of graffiti appeared two weeks ago and was removed last week, but a second slogan has now been sprayed on to boards at the Whitehill Country Homes development.

David Holt, director of Whitehill Country Homes, said: "We have only just been told about the graffiti but are in the process of removing it immediately."

The BNP does not have a branch in Adlington or Chorley but has a large following in Blackburn and Burnley.

MP for Chorley Lindsay Hoyle, who lives in Adlington, said: "I'm extremely disappointed that individuals have sprayed the letters BNP around the village.

"I think it is extremely foolish and while it is most likely to be the work of teenagers it sends out the wrong message in the village."

Neither the family that works from the affected office nor managers at the Sharju Raj were available for comment as we went to press.