HOLIDAY time high spirits have been blamed for a spate of pranks involving Malvern's memorial to Sir Edward Elgar.

The statue on Belle Vue island has been crowned with a traffic cone and squirted with shaving foam in recent weeks.

Now, more seriously, it has been the target for graffiti, with the word 'Droitwich' written in black felt pen across the shoulders of the composer.

Artist Rose Garrard designed the statue and accompanying Enigma water feature, which were unveiled by the Duke of York in May.

She said: "Most public things attract some high spirits, but the felt tip is a nuisance, because it isn't the easiest thing to remove.

Ms Garrard acted immediately to clean off the graffiti and then re-patinated and re-waxed the surface.