FIVE Ledbury teenagers have been cautioned for spraying graffiti around the town following a chance discovery by a member of the public.

They were found to be responsible for graffiti on buildings at John Masefield High School, Ledbury Cricket Club and in Little Marcle Road.

A member of the public had found a backpack in woodland and handed it over to Community Support Officer (CSO) Carol Marsh, who noticed a small graffiti tag on it.

Inquiries confirmed the owner of the bag, who admitted to PC Peter Askwith that he was responsible for the graffiti, as did several others.

"All of this happened as a result of a public-spirited person handing in the backpack and shows how the police do need - and get - the co-operation of the community," said PC Askwith.

"We have been aware of the appearance of a small amount of graffiti in the town recently and made sure we were familiar with the tags that were being sprayed.

"When CSO Marsh saw that the bag was decorated with one of these tags, that was the breakthrough we needed to be able to identify those responsible.

"This was the first time any of them had been in trouble with the police and so they received a caution and some strong words of warning.

"But they know now that we do take the issue of illegal graffiti spraying seriously and make every effort to identify those responsible.

"If they do cause more criminal damage in this way, they can be assured that they will, in future, be dealt with through the courts."

Ledbury's policing team held a free graffiti workshop for young people at Ledbury Youth Centre during half term week.

"We certainly don't want to stifle young people's creativity and have helped to provide the facilities for them to do that properly," added PC Askwith.

"So there really can be no excuses for painting unlawful graffiti elsewhere around the town."