Police in the North are investigating threatening graffiti posted on a wall in east Belfast.

They say they are working with Belfast City Council to remove it as quickly as possible.

It comes after authorities decided not to remove a loyalist bonfire from the car park of the Avoniel Leisure Centre, after contractors were threatened by paramilitaries.

Contractors hired to remove the bonfire material pulled out of the job, after they were threatened with violence by the East Belfast UVF.

It came ahead of the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne on Friday.

Two PSNI officers walking towards the bonfire site at Avoniel Leisure Centre in Belfast | Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire/PA Images

In a statement on Sunday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "The chief constable is on record publicly stating that the intimidation of contractors and the impact this will have had on them and their families must not be tolerated.

"A thorough police investigation is now underway to identify those responsible and seek to bring them before the courts.

"The removal of graffiti is the responsibility of the property owner assisted by any other relevant agency. It is not a function for, or the responsibility of the police service.

"Officers are in ongoing liaison with the property owners and with Belfast City Council in an attempt to ensure the removal of the offending graffiti at the earliest opportunity.

"As a police service we have been clear in our position that we will support other agencies to carry out their statutory functions in the removal of this graffiti and we are ready to do so in order to address any community safety issues and to ensure that there is no breach of the peace."