AN ANTI-GRAFFITI squad will be at work in Winchester to rid walls of unwanted paintwork.

Graffiti Busters will be in action this Friday in the lane between The Square and Little Minster Street.

In a new move to tackle the problem, the squad will use specialist chemicals to remove graffiti tagging.

The idea is that the artists will be discouraged if their work is speedily removed. Surveys have shown that graffiti also contributes to the fear of crime.

Acting in partnership, the police, city council, Winchester City Centre Partnership and the probation service have pooled resources to target tagging.

PC James Hart said: "I would like to hear from anyone who has witnessed graffiti being committed within the city.

"It is a crime that the police take very seriously and we are keen to prosecute anyone involved in such activity.

"It is important that graffiti damage is reported to the police as it is both a criminal offence and can form evidence when considering taking out either an Acceptable Behaviour Contract or Antisocial Behaviour Order on an offender."

The labour to remove the paint will be provided by offenders serving community punishment orders.

Until now, the clean-up has been restricted to areas such as alleyways and shop fronts where unsightly graffiti can be treated by painting over.

Cross Keys Passage, leading from High Street to Silver Hill, has benefited from a community art project ensuring that the refurbished areas remain graffiti-free.

The new graffiti-busting chemicals mean more surfaces, from brick and concrete to painted masonry, plastics and metal, can be treated. The scheme is to be extended from the city centre to outlying areas with the help of a new team of community wardens employed by the city council and will be launched within a few weeks.

City centre manager Graham Love said: "Graffiti can now be dealt with on the spot, making clean-up a faster, more efficient task."