COUNCIL tax payers are being landed with a £450 bill to clean and repair a welcome sign after vandals daubed obscene graffiti over it.

The stone sign on Stokesley road, traditionally welcomes visitors to Northallerton the county town of North Yorkshire, but it has had to covered over after it was daubed by vandals.

Attempts to clean it up failed because the paint was on the stonework so professionals experts were needed to do the job.

Local police Sgt Simon Wilson told the town council they were appealing for information about the graffiti attack.

County councillor David Blades said: “This problem with graffiti is concerning because it is the taxpayers who end up paying to put it right.

“But there is the warning that anyone who is found to be daubing graffiti, claims for compensation to repair the damage can be made against them.”

He added: “We hope that people take notice of this.”