Cllr Roofe said: “The placing of this racist model on top of the bonfire is despicable and must be removed immediately. It is nothing but a blatant act of racism and hatred, and cannot be excused as a celebration of culture. Those responsible only seek to incite fear and spread far-right beliefs and do not represent the community as a whole. 

“Every year, we see incidents of hate and intimidation associated with bonfires, and this behaviour is entirely unacceptable. While Alliance supports everyone's right to celebrate their culture and traditions, these celebrations must be conducted safely and respectfully. They should never come at the expense of another person.

“I urge everyone to speak out against these actions, and I hope to see these inappropriate displays taken down as soon as possible. If we are to move forward as a society, we must all begin to show respect for one another.”