More than 60 tins of paint handed into a recycling centre near Norwich have been donated to a campaign to help rid the city's streets of graffiti.

The Evening News launched its Graffitibusters campaign in a bid to try to combat the growing number of illegal graffiti tags which are threatening to spoil this fine city of ours.

The campaign, which is being supported by Norwich police, Central Norwich Citizens Forum, Norwich City Council and the Norwich City Centre Partnership, has urged people to donate money, paint or time to help keep the streets clean.

Bosses at Norfolk County Council's recycling centre at Ketteringham, near Norwich, which is run by May Gurney, were prompted to donate 66 tins of different types of paint after reading about the campaign.

Joe Mooney, deputy county council cabinet member for environment and waste, who was at Ketteringham to help hand over the paint, said: 'We're delighted that our recycling centre at Ketteringham has been able to help the excellent Graffitibusters project in such a practical way.

'Last year 30,000 litres of unwanted paint was collected at the County Council's main recycling centres. So it's great to know that what's been left over from people's home decorating projects around Ketteringham isn't going to waste, but will be reused to clean up the environment and keep more of Norwich's communities looking tip top.'

Sergeant Peter Sharples of the City Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT), said he was grateful for the 'very generous' donation which could prove to be the start of a long-term solution to graffiti in Norwich and elsewhere.

He said: 'We've got a variety of colours. Some are part tins and some are full tins.

'It's very gratefully received and we've got it all stacked up and ready to use.

'They are interested in expanding that around the county and offering the paint for similar projects elsewhere in Norfolk.'

Sgt Sharples said he would be contacting other SNTs in the county to see if they might be interested in receiving paint as part of graffiti clean-ups being carried out elsewhere.

Have you got a story for the campaign? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk