Picture Ref: 77721-08JUST two days after a town centre graffiti clean-up vandals have struck again.

On Wednesday the Adver reported on the first of two empowerment days in Swindon.

One of the day's activities was a clean-up of a wall in Granville Street on the side of Thomas Cook's branch in Havelock Street.

The whole wall was freshly painted on Tuesday but only 48 hours later it was daubed with slogans relating to homelessness.

The spot is well known as a haunt of beggars.

Oliver O'Dell, town centre development manager, has been involved in the empowerment days.

He said: "I'm not naive enough to think the wall wouldn't be graffitied again.

"The biggest shame is that we spent two days with the probation service preparing this wall and painting it, and two days later it's back.

"The other irony is that we work a lot with the homeless and we run a central giving scheme for them."

Mr O'Dell said the graffiti would be cleaned up as soon as possible.

He said: "We'll just persevere, and keep painting over it.

"We're now working a lot closer with the shops finding out who is buying spray materials and we'll be making a big effort to find out who these people are.

"I don't see why we should tolerate this in a public place any more than in residential areas.

"Hundreds of people walk past here every day."

Nearby shopkeepers are fed up with the regular graffiti in the area.

George Brown, 30, a shop assistant at McGuires butchers in Have-lock Street, said: "I think it's disgraceful. It's done in the same writing as was there before.

"They should make the people that do it take it off."

Vince Ayris, 42, who has an engraving shop nearby, said: "I think this is diabolical.

"They've just started smartening this place up.

"With the Brunel Centre being sold it seems like something is starting to happen to rejuvenate the town centre.

"There's been a lot more policing to stop begging, which is good, as it creates a bad first impression.

"Swindon is just starting to look brighter, and then all of a sudden there's somebody who pushes you back into the doldrums again."

Richard Musty, 67, a retired panel beater at Rover, was passing by.

He said: "I think it's disgusting. It gives a bad impression of the town.

"I'm a Swindonian but I live in Bournemouth now and you hardly see any graffiti there."

Dave Andrew