New paint deters graffiti at shop

A new weapon in the fight against graffiti in Darlington has been hailed a success after just four months.

In June a coating of anti-graffiti paint was applied to the end wall of a row of shops in Whitby Way, Branksome.

Darlington Council's clean-up team had been repeatedly called out to paint over racist and offensive messages daubed on the side of the shops.

The paint enables graffiti to be easily jet washed off and the number of complaints about vandalism have fallen.

Bill Dixon, Darlington Council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, said: "We are always looking for new ways to clean up graffiti, which is not only offensive to look at but can encourage other forms of anti-social behaviour.

"It is good news that this anti-graffiti paint has made a difference in this one area of the borough and we will be looking to use the paint in other trouble spots."