Criminal damage and theft at a war memorial in Ballymena, Northern Ireland are being treated as sectarian-motivated hate crimes.

Police are appealing for witnesses after flags were reported stolen and flag poles damaged at a war memorial in the Queen Street area in the early hours of Monday morning, 10th August.

Superintendent Calderwood from the PSNI said: "This is the second report we have received relating to damage and theft at the memorial in the past three days. The first incident occurred early on Saturday morning when flag poles were broken and flags taken.

“We believe both incidents to be linked and are treating them as sectarian motivated hate crimes.  

“I would appeal to anyone who was travelling in the Queens Street/Harryville areas during the hours of darkness on the 8th or 10th August and who may have noticed any suspicious activity or captured dash-cam footage which could assist with our enquiries to come forward."