POLICE have launched a hate crime investigation after a pig’s head was left on railings outside a mosque.

Officers received a report that the head had been left impaled on fencing outside the Taiyabah Masjid mosque in Draycott Street, off Blackburn Road at around 3.40am on Sunday.

Police investigating say they are treating it as a hate crime.

No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.

One resident, who lives nearby, spoke of his shock. 

He said: “The police went to neighbours and asked for CCTV.

“There were police vans here the other day and a police car opposite our house today.

“It happened right opposite my house.

“I have got a nephew who is two or three-years-old. It is not good for him. 

“It is not good for the community. I am really shocked.

“There has definitely been an increase in hate crimes.”

He added that it was especially shocking as the religious festival Eid starts on Friday.

In June, Greater Manchester Police said that religious hate crime had increased almost 300 per cent in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Between May 22, 2016 and June 19, 2016, 92 religious hate crimes were reported and between the same period this year, 366 were reported, an increase of 298 per cent. 

In the same period Islamophobic hate crime increased from 37 incidents to 224 incidents, an increase of 505 per cent. 

At the time, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said that the force will not tolerate hatred or discrimination of any kind. 

As well as reporting a hate crime directly to the police on 101, it can also be reported to community groups, including Bolton Council of Mosques on 01204 363680.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 444 of 27 August 2017.