PEOPLE who write slogans on road signs and surfaces will be treated as vandals, highways officials have warned.

North Yorkshire County Council is having to pay to clear or replace the signs and clean the road surfaces out of money raised through the council tax.

Council officers say they have had enough of the slogan painting and say it could cause accidents if drivers are distracted by reading the signs.

A number of signs in the Stokesley area have recently been daubed with slogans and an investigation is under way to find those responsible.

Councillor Peter Sowray, executive member for environmental services, said: "People must realise that if they write slogans on the roads and deface road signs then they have to be cleaned or replaced. It could run into several thousands of pounds and it's money which could really be spent on delivery of vital services such as road repairs and gritting.

"We won't get involved in any of the debates which have prompted people to act in this way, only to say that all cases will be treated as acts of vandalism. If we find who is responsible, then every effort will be made to recover the costs from them."