VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds of damage to bus shelters in Portishead by daubing them in graffiti. Portishead and North Weston Town Council is facing footing the bill to replace 19 polycarbon panels at 19 bus shelters in the town after they were

VANDALS have caused thousands of pounds of damage to bus shelters in Portishead by daubing them in graffiti.Portishead and North Weston Town Council is facing footing the bill to replace 19 polycarbon panels at 19 bus shelters in the town after they were damaged by spray can wielding hooligans.Other areas being targeted by the vandals include Worthington Walk and Cabstand where the walls of buildings have been daubed with pictures and obscene language.Portishead and North Weston Town Council clerk Penny Rendle said: "There has been black paint scribbled all across the bus shelters and it is costing a fortune to clear up."We are now in the process of getting a quote to replace all of the polycarbonate panels in our 19 shelters around the town."We cannot paint over the graffiti, or scrub it off like you can on brick walls, the panels have to be completely replaced."There have been some businesses in the town which have been refurbished recently, only to be attacked by the vandals."Some of the language which is used is extremely offensive."It really makes the town look unsightly and does not give the impression we want of Portishead."Portishead Police Sergeant Terry Scoble said officers had been taking photos of the graffiti on walls and bus shelters in the town to build up a dossier of evidence.Sgt Scoble added: "We have been following up a number of leads regarding graffiti in the town."Graffiti is criminal damage and any person caught doing it will be arrested and dealt with.