Graffiti won’t stick to new paintwork

From the archive, first published Friday 15th Sep 2006.

An underpass notorious for graffiti has been given a lick of special paint to deter vandals.

Rail operator c2c, which runs the line between Shoebury and London Fenchurch Street, has now treated the underpass between Lancaster Gardens and Hastings Road, Southend, with graffiti-proof paint.

The paint does not stop vandals spraying the walls, but means surfaces can easily be wiped clean with a cloth and water.

The work was carried out after members of the Kilworth Avenue and Cromer Road Neighbourhood Watch group contacted c2c.

Glyn Evans, the group's deputy, said: "The council used to come along and clean it up, but the vandals kept coming back.

"The council kept having to send the graffiti clean-up team back to clean it up.

"It was so unsightly and attracted other crime. It also felt very threatening walking through, with it covered in graffiti."