Council leaders have slammed Covid-19 deniers after posters questioning the existence of the pandemic were placed around Richmond.

Posters under the headline Scamdemic were fixed to benches around Richmond Green and in other parks, which undermine public health messages.

Leaders at Richmond Council hit out after they were alerted to the presence of the posters by Richmond Nub News.

Council leader Cllr Gareth Roberts condemned whoever was responsible for putting up the "false" messaging and called on the public to help identify where they are placed.

He said: "We are on a knife edge. Our hospitals are struggling and people are dying.

"Over the last few months, I have noticed an increasing toxicity around stories, particularly on social media about coronavirus. Now we have posters in our parks.

"Now, I completely understand that people are weary of hearing of the disease after it has dominated headlines for the last nine months, combined with the huge personal sacrifices we have all made.

"But these idiots creating false propaganda are not scientists. They are conspiracy theorists."

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He added: "We know that in Richmond nearly 200 people have died from coronavirus.

"We know that our current positive rate is the highest it has been with more than 638.8 per 100,000 people testing positive. That is compared to around 100 per 100,000 at the start of December.

"If we see these irresponsible posts or posters, we will remove them and if people see them when they are out having their daily exercise, please report them to 020 8891 1411."

The most striking part of the poster is the large bold headline Scamdemic.

It features pictures of notable politicians and public health officials like Dr Anthony Fauci, who leads the Amercian government response, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, surrounded by anti-lockdown propaganda.

Controversially, one section of the poster reads: "We are not living in a genuine pandemic... And collectively let us not persist with the Orwellian new normal. Let us break away from the subjugation. They are only strong because they can divide and separate us, but together we are invincible."