HOOLIGANS in Brierley Hill caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage when they graffitied walls, telecom boxes and shop shutters in a shocking vandalism spree.

Dudley Council said it cost £640 to remove the ‘tags’ that were found across Moor Street, Mill Street and High Street on July 28.

The cost of the two day clean-up operation was revealed in the hope of deterring repeat attacks.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “It is always disappointing when the mindless actions of a few affect others. In this case, not only did the graffiti upset people in the local community, but it has cost us money to clean it up.

“Our officers were on site within 36 hours of the incident to clean it off. We are receiving less money from the government each year, and the £640 we had to use could have been spent on something that would have benefitted the community instead."

He added: “I hope that by releasing this information it will make people think twice before causing damage to public property in the future.

"People can be reassured that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and we are now working with the police to identify the offenders.”

The council is working with the police to prosecute the offenders, should they be identified.

Anyone with information should call police on 0345 113 5000.