In June a coating of anti-graffiti paint was applied to the end wall of a row of shops in Whitby Way, Branksome.

Darlington Council's clean-up team had been repeatedly called out to paint over racist and offensive messages daubed on the side of the shops.

The paint enables graffiti to be easily jet washed off and the number of complaints about vandalism have fallen.

Bill Dixon, Darlington Council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, said: "We are always looking for new ways to clean up graffiti, which is not only offensive to look at but can encourage other forms of anti-social behaviour.