A THOUSAND pounds a week. That is what it costs this city to clean up the mess left by graffiti artists'.

These people are not artists, whatever they might like to think. They are vandals. The money wasted on clearing up after them comes from the pockets of ordinary taxpayers.

The city council has much better things to invest in, such as providing decent care for the elderly or vulnerable.

So the city is fighting back. Traders who stock spray paints are being reminded it is an offence to sell them to under-age customers.

Meanwhile, Safer York Partnership is compiling a database of graffiti tags and known taggers'. Let's hope these spray-paint menaces can be swiftly brought to justice.