CONCERNS have been raised over a recent spate of Covid-denying graffiti being spread across Barrhead.

Local politicians have condemned the mindless vandalism, which has the seen the phrase “Hoax-20” scrawled on premises and signs around the town.

The message has been scrawled in locations such as Cowen Park, the Barrhead Water Works and a Scottish Water unit next to the Levern Water.

Those responsible for the graffiti have been accused of spreading misinformation, as well as deeply hurting those who have lost loved ones to the virus and hard-working NHS staff.

East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald told the Barrhead News: “These are very strange pieces of graffiti which have appeared in Barrhead. If they are meant to signal that Covid-19 is a hoax, they are really unwelcome and unhelpful.

Barrhead News:

“People who have lost a loved one to Covid-19 and those who are living with the after-effects know it is certainly not a hoax.

“We all need to ignore such messages and focus on rolling out the vaccine and our other efforts to contain the virus. I am very grateful for the efforts of all the front-line staff who are working so hard to get us through this.”

Barrhead councillor Paul Aitken added: “As somebody who works in healthcare, I can assure the graffiti vandals that Covid-19 is very real and the deaths of East Renfrewshire residents are also very real.

Barrhead News:

“The graffiti we have seen in Barrhead may be somebody’s twisted idea of humour, but I would say to them trust me, nobody is laughing.”

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said community wardens would be staging extra patrols around the town to crack down on the illegal behaviour.

They added: “Once we are informed about an area of graffiti, our removal team will attend to deal with it.

“Our community wardens also carry out increased patrols.”