Telephone junction boxes are to be cleaned

The operation is focused on telephone junction boxes in Hartlepool, which have been targeted by graffiti artists and fly posters.

BT and cable company NTL, which own the boxes, are providing specialist equipment and materials.

The work is being done by offenders under the supervision of the Hartlepool Youth Offending Service.

The young offenders all come from the town and are subject to reparation orders after being found guilty of criminal damage.

Craig Thelwell, the council's environmental action manager, said: "There are an estimated 4,000 telephone junction boxes around the town and many are eyesores, covered in either graffiti or fly posters.

Junction boxes

"This scheme involves re-painting the vandalised boxes and then applying a special anti-graffiti coating.

"We are told that the coating can last for up to 22 years and any further graffiti can be cleaned off with a mild detergent."

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond added: "We get a lot of complaints about the state of telephone junction boxes in various parts of the town, and we want people to know that we are serious about tackling the problem."

Paul Andrew, reparation officer with the Hartlepool Youth Offending Service, added: "This scheme provides an ideal opportunity for local young offenders to give something back to the community, whilst also tackling a major environmental problem."

Earlier this year a report by Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) said towns and cities across England were being "held to ransom" by graffiti.

The charity estimated the cost to councils of dealing with the "epidemic" at �27m a year.