THE writing is on the wall for the graffiti plaguing Hereford as a 'graffiti-busting gang' gets to work.

Responding to the Hereford Times' Don't Rubbish Our City campaign, Herefordshire Council is to make cleaning graffiti from city walls a top priority, with £10,000 allocated to the first phase.

The Hereford Times published a series of photographs through last autumn, in response to readers' concerns, and the council now is working in partnership with Herefordshire Jarvis Services to wipe out the mess left by vandals wielding spray cans.

Councillor Phil Edwards, cabinet member for the environment, said: "The Hereford Times raised the public profile of the problem - now is an opportune moment for us to team up to launch the clean-up gang."

The three-man gang has begun blitzing areas of the city where yobs have been especially active, including Belmont, Castle Green and the riverside.

Coun Edwards sees the initiative as a major step forward in improving the county's environment.

"Vandals who spray graffiti in public places blight people's lives. The graffiti-busting gang will form our first line of defence against them," he says.

The project also has the support of the Community Safety Partnership, which this week learned its bid for Home Office funds had been successful, ensuring that a further £24,000 will be available to extend the graffiti clean-up operation and implement youth engagement and police enforcement work.

"We need to get the message across that graffiti is unacceptable, often offensive and can encourage anti-social behaviour," says CSP chairman Sue Fiennes.

A Graffiti Gang hotline - 01432 261800 - has been set up and members of the public can call with details of any graffiti that appears on public buildings and sites.

Callers will need to give the location and object or property that has graffiti on, what the material is made of ie brick or plaster etc, and whether it is on public or private property.

"It's important to note we have no jurisdiction over privately-owned property," says Stephen Oates, the council's head of engineering and transportation. "In these cases we will discuss cleaning with the owner."

Hereford Times' editor Liz Griffin said: "I'm sure the many readers who contacted us out of concern for their beloved city will be delighted at this response - the first stage in a campaign that we hope will eventually clean up the county."