A RACIST yob has scrawled messages of hate on the gates of a former church now used by city Sikhs.

The Sikh Association Community Centre... was targeted by vandals on the same day members celebrated the return of its stained glass windows.

A member of the public complained after seeing the abusive graffiti scrawled on the gates and railings around the former church.

Today Manjit Singh Cheema, from the Sunderland Sikh Association, said he and the community were disgusted and saddened to see the hate graffiti.

He said: "It's such a shame when one person does something like this. We are shocked by this and it's sad that this has happened."

"We want the community centre to be used by everyone, regardless to their race or religion, so this is just awful that someone has done this...."

Mr Cheema says integration has always been important to the Sikh community.
He said: "We have a lot to offer the city and we don't make any difference between people who are Sikh, or Christian or whatever. We want the centre to be used by everyone."

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police today confirmed a 25-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the graffiti incident. [Link]