FACEBOOK has shut down a hate campaign against a police community support officer.

The page on the social networking site was in response to fines Halstead PCSO Eddy Edwards had dished out.

Derogatory comments had been posted on the page, which had 42 members.

Essex Police has declined to comment, but community leaders in Halstead have rallied around Mr Edwards, who has served the town for four years since he retired as a cop.

Shay Aves, chairman of Halstead’s Parkfields Pre-School, said: “The campaign is an absolute disgrace.

“The people who set it up should be ashamed of themselves. PCSO Eddy Edwards is a pillar of society. The kids all love him.”

Jackie Pell, chairman of the Halstead Crime Prevention Panel, said: “Eddy Edwards is a well-respected PCSO and he works very hard “Sometimes these Facebook things go too far.”

Leoni Chapman, 23, a care worker, was listed as the page’s creator and Jake Paterson, 20, a former Ramsey College pupil, was listed as one of the administrators.

Miss Chapman said: “I have no regrets about setting up the page. I thought we would set it up for a laugh.”

Engineer Mr Paterson, 20, of Windmill Road, Halstead, said: “Ever since he started working in Halstead, we haven’t got on.”

The page was removed after the Gazette contacted Facebook. A spokesman said: “This group was in violation of Facebook’s statement of rights and responsibilities.”