Ref. 29455-14POLICE have appealed for help in tracking down a mysterious graffiti artist spraying walls, garages and shops in Park South with a unique tag.

The graffiti simply the word 'Rusk' is appearing in large silver letters with regularity across the estate.

Since the New Year the word has appeared on property in Cavendish Square, Cranmore Avenue, Lyndhurst Crescent, Queen's Drive, Whitbourne Avenue and Drakes Way.

Now beat officer PC Paul Saunders is urging members of the community to shop whoever is responsible in his long-term crusade to clear up anti-social behaviour and turn round people's perception of the troubled estate.

PC Saunders, 27, said: "The graffiti has just started appearing in the Parks area and has gradually spiralled to the extent that you can't go anywhere anymore without seeing it.

"It has appeared on buildings and is one of the first things people mention when I'm on foot patrol. But now it's got to the stage where people don't mention it at all because it's just everywhere.

"Graffiti is criminal damage and anti-social. It has an effect on people's lives especially those who live and shop in Park South and we want to stop whoever is responsible, to improve the quality of life and people's perception of the estate.

"Somebody out there must recognise the tag. More often than not the person spraying graffiti lives in the area it's like they are marking their territory.

"Some people call it art, but there are ways people can express their artistic tendencies and this is not it.

"I promise the police will investigate this issue thoroughly and if we receive information we will do our best to stop it happening in the future."

Last year a fear of crime survey conducted by Swindon police concluded that graffiti was one of the most serious negative factors about the town.

Swindon Council has set aside roughly £50,000 this year to tackle the blight of graffiti on roads signs, bus shelters and subways across the borough.

In addition the probation service and Swindon's street wardens, with the help of those serving community punishment orders, have removed graffiti from council-owned buildings across Parks and Walcot using a special £7,000 spray machine.

In December 2002 the Evening Advertiser's memorial to the victims of mesothelioma in Queen's Park was vandalised with a series of indecipherable slogans.

Giles Sheldrick