THE writing is on the wall for graffiti 'artists' in Bromsgrove for whom the sight of any blank space prompts them to reach for a spray can.

Bromsgrove District Council is toying with the idea of spending £25,000 on a second-hand machine to rid the district of the unsightly anti-social menace.

The vehicle is two-years-old and as part of the deal the vendor, Graffiti Removal Ltd, has offered to throw in staff training and the necessary chemicals.

It would appear council tax payers could get a bargain if the deal goes ahead. The usual cost of the package is close on £50,000.

The purchase was discussed at the district council's executive meeting last Wednesday, behind closed doors with the press and public absent.

Councillors voted to defer a decision until a meeting of the full council on February 28.

Local authorities now have a duty to crackdown on anti-social behaviour and the speedy removal of 'wall crawl' is seen as a clear signal that the council is prepared to get tough on offenders.

On the face of it Bromsgrove does not appear to have a major problem, but it is estimated that in a full year clean up costs could be as high as £18,000.

The offer of the vehicle comes at a time when the council's budget is showing signs of being depleted.

However there is good news.

The council had earlier earmarked more than £410,000 to buy three refuse collection vehicles and a tanker, but the actual cost was less.

It left a surplus of more than £69,000, more than adequate to buy the graffiti removal vehicle.