Conservatives have said rival parties in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election should appeal to their supporters to fight clean after posters promoting Chris Davies were defaced.

The word ’crook’ has been handwritten, in marker pen, and spray painted across candidate Chris Davies’ name on Conservative posters.

The by-election has been called after more than 10,000 voters signed a petition demanding he face a recall election after his criminal conviction under the Parliamentary Standards Act.

Mr Davies, who first won the seat at the 2015 general election, had broken Parliamentary rules by creating two false invoices to split the cost of a £700 bill for photographs between two expense accounts in April 2016.

He had been entailed to claim back the cost of the photographs but not to create the two invoices in the manner he had. Mr Davies has apologised and said it was a genuine mistake made when he was a new MP.

The by-election was triggered at the end of May when the is week recall petition period ended. Since the petition opened parties have been vigorously campaigning across the constituency.

Though the Conservative Party hasn't made any official comments local members say they are disappointed at the vandalism of its posters.

A statement from local members said: "Once again our signs have been removed and defaced at various locations across Brecon and Radnorshire.

"We have seen a big increase in sign attacks since the 2017 General Election. However, this election we have also had our office vandalised on various occasions, the latest being this weekend with ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ stickers and images drawn in the doors and windows.

"We call on all our political opponents to speak with their teams and supporters to ensure this type of vile campaigning ends now. We believe in debating issues and discussion, not political attacks and smears during election campaigns."

The weekend after it was announced the recall petition had succeeded the local association’s office in Brecon was vandalised with stickers bearing a crude slogan.

The yellow stickers stating "B*****ks to Brexit" and "B*****ks to Boris" were placed on the door and windows of the Conservative Party’s local headquarters in Lion Yard, Brecon. The slogan about Brexit was adopted by the remain supporting Liberal Democrats for its campaign for the European Parliament elections earlier this year.

The Conservatives had also complained that posters were vandalised during the 2017 snap election when Mr Davies increased his majority to more than 8,000 votes.

The Liberal Democrats are considered to be the main challengers in Brecon and Radnorshire and candidate Jane Dodds has received a small boost with Plaid Cymru and the Green Party both pulling out, they say, to support her as a remain candidate.

Also standing are Tom Davies (Labour), Des Parkinson (Brexit Party) Liz Phillips (UKIP) and Lady Lily the Pink (Official Monster Raving Loony).

The election takes place on Thursday, August 1.