AS we reveal today, young offenders are being ordered to clean away the graffiti which is a major eyesore throughout the town.

There is an appealing sense of poetic justice to the idea that some of those responsible for the witless vandalism should be among those obliged to remove it. It also demonstrates a commitment by Swindon Services and the Probation Service to make the town a better place.

Public organisations are often criticised when they get things wrong, but on this occasion the people who came up with the idea deserve credit.