Police have launched an investigation after the rope, with a knot associated with hanging, was spotted on Thursday.

Detectives say they do not know whether the noose was put there by someone who wished themselves harm or whether there was a sinister motive.

A spokesperson for Jarrell Police Department said in a statement to local media: “If it was hate, bias or racially motivated, it’s not okay.

“If it is someone who was attempting to take their life, they may not be ok.”

Police posted an appeal for information on social media, which received a flood of responses before it was removed.

On the Jarrell Police Department Facebook page, a spokesperson posted: “Thank you to all those who were able to provide information on the incident from earlier today. “We received credible information that the individual responsible was passing through Jarrell and headed South bound. “This is an ongoing investigation, and we appreciate all those who assisted.”

Updating its Facebook page later on in the day, a Jarrell Police Department spokesperson explained that the post had been taken down. He said: “We received an overwhelming response and great leads from many individuals and wanted to give the public the most current information without confusion.”

The investigation is ongoing.

In August, a similar noose was found hanging outside a family’s home in Diamond Bar, California, which was later declared to be a hate incident.

On that occasion, a woman identified only by her first name, Lillian, told the Los Angeles-based news station KABC, that her son noticed the rope hanging in the side yard of their residence when he left for work and instantly removed it.

She said: “He sent me a text and said, ‘Mom, I found this hanging in the tree on the side of the house, but I took it down’.

“I’m thinking this is something on the news because it was a noose. I thought, ‘Oh my god’.”

Lillian filed a report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which was treating the incident as a potential hate crime.

She said the appearance of the rope had “really concerned” her and added: “If people will hang a noose in a tree at a house of people - and they had to know we were African American or why would they hang the noose there? That’s a symbol of a warning sign.”

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.