The Chippenham Civic Society has condemned a surge of graffiti in the town centre.

Some of the biggest ‘tags’ have appeared on the Grade II listed railway viaduct, the outer wall of Homebase facing onto the Old Road, the Bridge Centre in Bath Road and bus shelters.

Treasurer and executive committee member Roger Backway said the spray paint vandalism is one of his pet hates.

“There is a real problem with graffiti in Chippenham, and it’s making the town look very sad,” he said.

“It hadn’t been too bad in the last year or so, but there’s been a sudden outbreak recently. Unless we nip it in the bud, it is going to get worse. We want to exhort people to act, as at the moment is seems like it’s just being tolerated. It’s a criminal activity and it looks awful.”

Police can arrest anyone caught tagging public property, as it is criminal damage. It is also an offence to carry a spray can with the intention of spraying graffiti, and police have warned that they will stop and search anyone they suspect of this.

Mr Backway said: “Part of the difficulty is finding out who is responsible for clearing the graffiti. Unfortunately, it seems like Wiltshire Council don’t have a removal scheme, like many other local authorities do.”

Police in Chippenham whitewashed a wall under the Gladstone Road bridge last year with the aim of ridding the town of unwanted graffiti.

However, Mr Backway said some taggers are only interested in causing trouble.

“I’m always amazed that so few people seem to be reporting it to the police,” he said.

“Serious outbreaks that are not promptly dealt with not only disfigure the town but encourage further attacks. Graffiti gives a negative image of our much-loved town, can be a disincentive to inward investment and also creates fear of crime where it is persistent.”

To report a crime, call Wiltshire Police on 101.