TIME is running out for the mystery tagger who daubed graffiti on 17 separate sites in a Worcestershire village.

Police said they are close to finding out who daubed WR5/8 on walls, telephone boxes, bus shelters, houses and even the parish hall in Kempsey over the course of a weekend less than two weeks ago.

PC Alan Naulls said: "Our enquiries are continuing but we do have one or two leads and we do hope they will bear fruit and see some activity on that."

PC Naulls said no arrests have been made but said officers were set to interview some members of the community, including youths with Asbos (anti-social behaviour orders), about the recent activity in the village yesterday.

PC Naulls said anti-social behaviour was still a problem although things had improved in recent months and reports had died down.

He said at the parish council meeting. "Over the last week-to-10-days, unfortunately, it kicked off again so we will make enquiries into that this week."

We reported in your Worcester News on Friday how residents in Kempsey condemned the graffiti in the village.

The areas affected were at the playing field, the pavilion roller shutter doors, the wall between the playing field and houses in Elgar Drive, the electricity sub station, the youth centre; the store belonging to the youth club, the store belonging to the Scouts, playing field store next to the pavilion, youth shelter, play equipment in the children's play area, houses in Post Office Lane, a wall in Post Office Lane, a wall in Old Road North, the Crown Inn skittle alley and the parish hall.

PC Naulls said his team will patrol the village whenever possible in a bid to deter any further unwanted activity.

It was agreed at the meeting for parish councillors to look into ways of getting rid of the graffiti on buildings and equipment under the council's jurisdiction. Chairman David Harrison said: "If the people are subsequently caught we will have a bill to present to them."

Kempsey has suffered a series of problems with anti-social behaviour in the past three years including thefts from cars, vandalism to bikes, cars, and the wooden bridge over Hatfield brook in the Rocky conservation area.

Litter bins have also been set alight and residents suffered a week of mail disruption last year when the locks on post boxes were vandalised.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 08457 444888 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.