Council staff were unimpressed by a declaration of love after graffiti was left on a street near the town centre.

The graffiti was sprayed on West Stockwell Street shortly before council staff cleared it up.Gazette: A love heart graffitied onto a drain cover is certainly an unusual declarationA love heart graffitied onto a drain cover is certainly an unusual declaration

A statement on Colchester Council’s Twitter page made clear graffiti – even if a declaration of love for someone – would not be tolerated.

It read: "Love may be in the air, but we’re not enamoured by this graffiti in West Stockwell Street.

Gazette: These were certainly love letters of a different kindThese were certainly love letters of a different kind

"We are working with the police to trace the lovelorn 'artists'."