Graffiti-busting work in Norwich

Hopes are high that all the graffiti in the city centre will be wiped out this summer despite a poor turn out at the latest clean-up event.

Just one volunteer turned out to help get rid of graffiti in the Rose Lane car park on Sunday.

But the lonely helper, together with two police community support officers (PCSOs) Darren Woods and Kenny Williams, managed to completely re-paint the walls. Action was also taken to arrange for the graffiti to be removed from the brickwork, which cannot be painted over.

The clean-up operation was the latest in a string of events supported by Norwich police, Central Norwich Citizens Forum, Norwich City Council and the Norwich City Centre Partnership.

The project, backed the Evening News' Graffiti Busters campaign, is now in urgent need of white paint.

Julian Foster, chairman of the city centre Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP), which set tackling graffiti as one of its priorities at its last meeting, said: 'The volunteers cleared the graffiti in St Faith's Lane, Pottergate and now in Rose Lane car park. I'm very hopeful that if we carry on holding regular clean-ups, there will be every opportunity for us to get rid of all the graffiti in the city by August.

'We have run out of white paint now and are in desperate need for more or for monetary donations towards some.'

Paint tins should be taken to Sgt Peter Sharples at Bethel Street Police Station. Send donations to Graffitibusters, Central Norwich Citizens' Forum, 2 Roaches Court, Norwich, NR3 1HJ