GRAFFITI is not a problem confined to Swindon, according to residents of Wroughton.

The problem has dogged the area for some months, but has got worse this week.

Tags have been sprayed at the back of the library, on the parish council offices, on a footpath wall by a working men's club and most recently on a fence by Moat Walk on Tuesday evening.

Local cabbie, Dave Ross, 56, who lives in one of the worst affected areas of Moat Walk, said: "These anti-social lowlifes are disrespectful scum.

"Whoever did this should feel ashamed of themselves. Why do they want to trash the area?

"They are a terrible nuisance and I don't know what they hope to achieve out of their graffiti apart from being a real menace to society.

"I'm sure they just do this out of boredom so perhaps something should be done to keep them occupied and off the streets."

Another local, Peter Searle, echoed his neighbour's thoughts.

He said: "What's the point in this? I have to look at the graffiti every day as my house looks directly at it. It's damn annoying.

"I'm really angry with whoever is responsible and can't believe they have got away with it so far. I hope the police catch those involved soon."

Manager of Wroughton Library, Sarah Checksfield, 38, washed down the graffiti herself but faced a losing battle. She said: "I spent about an hour cleaning it off one of the outside doors, but have found more around the back of the building.

"It has reached epidemic proportions. I've never seen anything quite as bad as it is now."

The parish council building at the Ellendune Community Centre on Barrett Way has been severely targeted.

Chairwoman Ann Richards, said: "This behaviour is not acceptable. It is magnified because it is such a small village."

The street vandalism is believed to be the result of youngsters, although PC Tony Miles is pursuing many lines of inquiry.

He said: "I don't want to say too much at this time and I don't want to advertise these people's work. We are working on many leads and it is only a matter of time before we catch them. It is an unsightly problem which we are working hard to stamp out."

Tags reading AME, Mono and SN4 can be seen all over the village and is proving a living nightmare for everyone connected with Wroughton.

Police would like to hear specifically from anyone with information about the graffiti problem in Wroughton.

You can call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Or you can call the Adver's Grass Up Graffiti hotline on 01793 501880.

Read all about this campaign, and others, in our campaigns section.