A statue of the founder of Bermuda in west Dorset has been targeted 'several times' by vandals amidst anti-racism protests.

Graffiti appeared on the Sir George Somers statue in Langmoor Gardens in Lyme Regis over the last few days. It is understood the word 'murderer' was written on the information board next to the statue.

The vandalism follows days of Black Lives Matter protests across the UK and the world following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25 after a white police officer had his knee on his neck for more than eight minutes. In Bristol, protestors pulled down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston.

The statue is featured on toppletheracists.org, which lists statues and monuments in the UK the protestors believe celebrate slavery and racism and should be taken down. On there he is described as a 'coloniser of Bermuda and war criminal'.

Town clerk John Wright said: “The statue of Sir George Somers in the seafront gardens has been targeted several times over the last few days. Signs were placed on the statue on two occasions and the information board was graffitied, all of which were removed.

“Council staff are keeping a close eye on the statue and we are in discussions with our insurer about measures which may need to be put place to protect it.”

The former mayor of Lyme Regis and West Dorset MP was erected in the town in 2016 after Lyme Regis was twinned with St Georges in Bermuda in 1996.

Lyme Regis mayor, Brian Larcombe said: “The statue to Sir George Somers marks the historic link between Lyme Regis and Bermuda that was formed by his ship running aground while navigating to the 'New World', and the subsequent relationship that has developed into a successful and valued present-day twinning with the people of St Georges.

“It is wrong that his statue has been targeted in the way it has and I'm sure the respective twinning group members of Lyme and St Georges will not regard this as having any impact on the close and valued relationship we share."

Sir George Somers was born in Lyme Regis in 1554 and became a respected politician and celebrated naval hero, knighted for his achievements, but best known for discovering Bermuda in 1609.

His career as a merchant trader and privateer made him a wealthy man and he was able to buy Berne Manor in Whitchurch Canonicorum in 1587.

As a privateer, in 1600, he commanded HMS Vanguard and captured a Spanish treasure ship before captaining HMS Swiftfire in 1601 which helped against the Spanish invasion of Ireland.

He was knighted by King James I in 1603 and became MP for Lyme Regis.

In 1609, Sir George and his colleagues were leading the ‘Third Supply Fleet’ on its way to Jamestown, Virginia, to relieve the ailing colony in his flagship, Sea Venture.

However, during a hurricane, Sea Venture was separated from the fleet of nine ships and was wrecked just off Discovery Bay in Bermuda. The were forced to find the first available land to survive and this marked the beginning of the colonisation of Bermuda.