PORTISHEAD businesses owners are counting the cost of vandalism following the latest wave of graffiti attacks in the town.

More than 20 incidents have been reported over the past few weeks, many centred around the High Street.

Black graffiti tags have been scrawled over buildings that include a funeral directors, charity shop, estate agents and clothing store.

Telephone boxes, public benches and bus shelters have also been subject to the attacks which are expected to cost hundreds-of-pounds to clean up.

Councillor Reyna Knight who is a member of Pride in Portishead, a voluntary group that works hard to keep the town looking clean and tidy, said: “Portishead has a lot of people who willingly give their time freely to make the town look great, then a few idiotic people come along and spoil it with graffiti that can create a negative impression of the area.”

The attacks took place just days after the judging of Portishead Bloom in July.

Police say they are not sure if the tags, which are believed to have been written with black paint pens, are the work of one person or a group of people.

They are appealing for anyone with information about the incidents to contact them on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.