Police are investigating a hate crime after a pig’s head was found on the roof of a mosque.

Worshippers at Heatons Muslims Community Trust in Stockport made the discovery on Friday night.

The incident has left mosque-goers “terrified”, according to one of its trustees.

“Parents are worried to send their kids, especially if someone is targeting the mosque,” Muhammad Tayyab Mohiuddin told Sky News.

He said the incident was caught on CCTV, with footage showing a car pulling up outside the centre and a passenger carrying what seems to be a bin bag getting out of it.

They then place the head on a low part of the roof, leaving it clearly visible.

The footage has been given to Greater Manchester Police, which is investigating the incident, Mr Mohiuddin said.

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Under Islamic dietary laws, Muslims are not allowed to eat or handle pork.

Mr Mohiuddin said: “We have a lot of elderly people and a lot of children who use the centre and obviously they are a bit terrified that someone is targeting us and fear in the future someone could go further.”

He added: “We have spoken to the police and have been told it is logged as a hate crime.”

A hate crime is one based on a person’s religion, race, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

The centre on Battersea Road in the Heatons suburb of the town has not encountered any similar issues since it was set up more than 10 years ago, Mr Mohiuddin said.

In the past year, a television and a donation box were stolen during two separate break-ins.

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.

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