Pupils designed the work for the Lowther Road underpass

The mural was created by more than 200 pupils from Malmesbury Park Primary School and Bethany Junior School for the underpass between Lowther Road in Charminster and Lowther Gardens in Springbourne.

The youngsters worked with artists and Arts University Bournemouth students to design the artwork on vinyl. The project was backed by representatives from the council, police and an arts charity.

It was officially unveiled after 13 months of work in 2014, and those behind the mural said they hoped their work would help the subway become "family-friendly and used by all".

Police also reported "overwhelmingly positive feedback" from the community, with families feeling "safe to use the subway again".

However, three and a half years on, the artwork has been destroyed by vandals who have torn the vinyl from the walls.

Mark Elkins, who chairs meetings for residents of Springbourne and East Cliff, said: "Once again, the subway has gone downhill, and all the artwork has been ripped off the walls.

"Rough sleeping and drug dealing is rife in the area.

"I paid a visit to the subway expecting to find the artwork still in place and was surprised at what I found."

Mr Elkins visited the subway recently following a residents' meeting. As reported by the Daily Echo, those who live near the underpass say it has become a "drug dealing haven".

Dealers use bikes to deliver class A drugs to addicts, it was said.

It was also claimed that land close to the Tesco Express and Aldi in Holdenhurst Road has turned into a "begging, shoplifting, drug dealing centre", with drugs being sold in a nearby phone box.

Police say the claims, made in an email to organisers of the public meeting, are not backed up by reports.

Sergeant Ashley White of Dorset Police said there have been no calls reporting drug activity near Tesco since December 2017.

However, Mr Elkin said: "The destruction of the mural illustrates all is not well in 2018, despite a well-intended project in 2014."