Paper blames itself for graffiti

The paint was speedily removed from the Crimean War Memorial Park

A newspaper editor has said his paper may be to blame for rude graffiti in a Somerset town after it sold goody bags containing hair spray-paint.

It is believed the paint was used to daub graffiti across Midsomer Norton during a festival over the weekend.

The timing was unfortunate, as judges from the Britain in Bloom competition were due to arrive on Monday.

Sam Holliday, of the Somerset Guardian, said: "We were horrified. We don't want to harm Midsomer Norton."

The newspaper's goody bags were on sale at Midsomer Norton's Mardi Gras festival over the weekend.

The graffiti was sprayed on walls across the town and in the Crimean War Memorial Park.

We feel very sorry that a few mindless individuals have ruined it Sam Holliday Editor of the Somerset Guardian

Paul Myers, of the Midsomer Norton Society, said: "The immediate reaction is to be angry about it - we've worked hard to try to make a space for the community.

"We don't have a lot of parks in the town. Obviously these young people think this is their space too.

"Somehow we've got to get together and talk about it."

Mr Holliday said: "We've been providing these goody bags at events for years.

"We were at Glastonbury Festival a few weeks ago and gave away 3,000 bags - everybody coloured their hair and it looked fantastic.

"When we heard that they were being abused it was really saddening.

"We feel very sorry that a few mindless individuals have ruined it.

"We won't be scrapping the goody bags but it's unlikely that we will include the hair sprays again."

The paint was rapidly removed on Sunday and early on Monday before the Britain in Bloom judges made their inspection.

They will make their final decision about Midsomer Norton's entry in the autumn.