GRAFFITI vandals went on the rampage at Chalkwell railway station causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

They had armed themselves with a pink spray can and scrawled tags along Ridgeway ending up in the ticket office.

Commuters at the station on Monday morning found it had been defaced by tags on the walls, ticket machine, and booths.

Barry Bond, who lives in nearby Undercliff Gardens, said graffiti was a persistent problem in the area, which he regularly helps clear up.

He said: “It’s never ending. I don’t think there’s an answer to it apart from punishment, and there’s no punishment given.

“If there’s a deterrant, people wouldn’t do it. I remember when I was a lad you dared not ride a bike without a light on the front and back.”

PC Chris Abbott, neighbourhood specialist officer for Chalkwell Marine, said they keep an eye on all suspected graffiti taggers in the area.

“If anybody sees anybody doing it then they can call 999. Or, if they see new tags, come up let us know so we can go down there and have a look at them.

“We generally have a list of suspects who have links to different tags and if they are tags we are aware of, then obviously those suspects will be spoken to.

“If they are new tags any intelligence on who might be responsible would be helpful.”

Anyone with information can call Leigh police station on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.