GRAFFITI vandals have been defacing a park in Southbourne.

Information boards, bins, toilets, and the bandstand in Fishermans Walk, Southbourne have all been ‘tagged’.

Volunteer group Friends of Fishermans Walk has made numerous attempts to clean the areas that have been damaged in the Green Flag-winning park.

Vice chairman of the group, former Bournemouth mayor Cllr Chris Mayne, said he was “fed up” with graffiti vandalism.

“It’s one of those modern-day scourges we’re up against. Friends of Fishermans Walk work hard towards the upkeep of the area and keeping it nice and some people abuse that. When you see graffiti on places like the information boards or the bandstand, it’s upsetting, and I don’t appreciate it.”

He added: “We get outbreaks of graffiti from time to time; sometimes it escalates, and I’ve reported other incidents in the past.

“I don’t know what these ‘tags’ mean, but they’re a nuisance – it costs time, money, and resources to clear them up.”

In March this year, an investigation was carried out after a prolific tagger targeted areas of Bournemouth.

The spate of graffiti took place over a three-week period and involved the tag ‘Pesto’ being sprayed on shops and other businesses in Winton, Northbourne, Wallisdown, Moordown, Bearwood, and Kinson.

Bournemouth council spent more than £92,000 removing graffiti around the town in the 12 month period up to the end of January 2016.

Cllr Mayne is asking residents with any information about the damage in Fishermans Walk to contact him on 07831175312.

Graffiti can also be reported to the council by telephone on 01202 451451.