GRAFFITI sprayed on a wall under the cover of night has left a veteran councillor raging after a community’s efforts to keep itself clean.

A long stretch of sprayed writing appeared overnight near the traffic lights in Mersea Road, Colchester.

It has left Berechurch and Shrub End councillor Dave Harris “appalled” with the vandalism which lies just metres from a retirement complex.

Mr Harris said: “I feel very hurt as this community is such a good one which really cares.

“We have litter pickers and councillors working day and night to keep it clean and safe and then someone comes behind our backs in the dead of night and scribbles on the wall.

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“I feel for the people who live opposite and I would ask the community to keep an eye out for acts like this and to let me know.

“It’s so sad as we all now have to work even harder to keep the wheels going to ensure the community is well serviced.

“I would love to have a five minute chat with the culprit to just explain how people feel about what they have done.

“It’s just so annoying and visible to everyone.”