A CASH reward is being offered by the borough council in the hope it will help lead to the arrest and conviction of the youths responsible for Basingstoke's graffiti problem.

Posters are being drawn up by the police, picturing the 12 most common tags being sprayed round Basingstoke.

Although the exact amount and details of the scheme are yet to be finalised, it is hoped the cash will encourage the public to reveal the identity of the tag "artists" the council is struggling to clean up after.

Sergeant Lee McClellan, one of four officers on the trail of graffiti taggers in the town since the problem began escalating 18 months ago, said: "They've got into this hip-hop culture and graffiti is part of it.

"We're hoping that, once these offenders are dealt with, we will keep on top of it and hit any new graffiti artists that start up."

He added: "We want to raise awareness and put pressure on these graffiti artists."

A crackdown on graffiti during the last few months has already resulted in four youths being arrested from one of the two main graffiti gangs in Basingstoke - the True Spin Crew.

Three 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old are currently on police bail pending further inquiries.

The police have also been successful in shutting down a website run by one of the four youths which was said to promote graffiti and other elements of the hip-hop culture.

Anyone with information about who is carrying out graffiti tagging is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.