VANDALS have caused a spate of "mindless" damage in plain sight along Bournemouth seafront.

Dozens of beach huts, walls and wooden posts have been tagged with graffiti in the East Cliff area.

A large plastic beachside bin has also been ruined beyond repair after a disposable barbecue melted through the side of the container.

The graffiti all features similar markings, with tags reading MS, MIS and MS Crew.

East Cliff and Springbourne ward councillor Michael Filer, said: "This is just a terrible situation because 99.9 percent of people in the town are proud of the town and want to keep its amenities and facilities in order.

"These mindless individuals are trying to destroy what so many people want to build up and we just have to do all we can to stop it.

"While they shouldn't approach people directly, if members of the public who see this happening can get any information they can or take a photograph of the graffiti being carried out and report what they see it would be really appreciated."

Cllr Filer advised anyone with information to contact the council.

Further along the beach, a row of 17 huts on the seafront have also been subject to the similar tagging in black spray paint.

Chris Saunders, Bournemouth Borough Council's head of operations, said: “We take graffiti very seriously and want Bournemouth to be as graffiti-free as possible.

"Our in-house team will be taking the necessary steps to remove it from the affected areas as soon as possible.”

Along with the graffiti, the damaged wheelie bin, which cost a couple of hundred pounds, has a significant hole near its base where a barbecue has melted the side of the bin.

On the damage to bins on the beach Mr Saunders said: “We want everyone to enjoy Bournemouth’s beaches and ask that if barbecues are used, that they are extinguished properly and put next to one of our seafront bins for the cleaning team to collect.

"Occasionally, barbecues are disposed of in the bins whilst still hot which causes damage and unfortunately a few of our seafront bins will need replacing before the summer season."