Vandals can face a jail term of up to 10 years

The number of graffiti attacks is expected to rise by over a third during the Christmas break, police said.

Police carried out a number of raids on Wednesday to apprehend vandals.

The raids follow the jailing on Tuesday of two men who attacked and spray-painted a man on a train.

'Intent on damage'

Twenty-three people - four from London - were arrested during the raids.

A BTP spokesman said: "While most people are at home watching television and having Christmas dinner a small minority of people are going to be out there intent on causing criminal damage across the rail network.

"Our message is we're going to be out there, we're going to be looking for you, and there's a high risk you're going to be caught."

Vandals can face a prison term of up to 10 years in the most serious cases.

On Tuesday, Robin Knell, 24, and Reon Tombofa, 25, were both jailed for more than three years after attacking a man at Cricklewood station in north west London in December.

The pair, both from Willesden, north west London, had damaged a string of railway properties on the same day. Both had previously been given Asbos that banned them from railway sidings and from carrying spray paint.