Council staff have been subject to unacceptable physical and verbal assaults during the coronavirus crisis, including one council worker having their leg broken.

Several councils have reported frontline staff have been a victim of ‘sickening' assaults, including being spat and sworn at, as well as racial abuse.

One community safety patrol officer at Southend-on-Sea Council was even deliberately hit by a cyclist, leading to him breaking his leg.

Chairman of the Local Government Association, Cllr James Jamieson, said: ‘Local government workers should always be respected and valued – even more so in these challenging times when they are needed more than ever.

'It is becoming increasingly concerning to hear that local government workers are being subjected to physical and verbal abuse as they try and play their part in keeping the country running through this crisis.'