IMAGINE my surprise one Sunday morning at 8am when there was a young graffiti vandal already at work near the shops on Bishopthorpe Road.

He was stockily built, about 11 years old, wearing a distinctive bright red tracksuit-like garment and had unusually thick, bushy, fair to gingery hair.

He was accompanied by a smaller, dark haired, boy.

The culprit was using a dark-coloured marker-type pen and both boys fled in the direction of Ebor Street when we spoke to them, but I am certain they are local.

It was a small offence in the general scale of things, but it will not be long before they progress to spray paint etc if their behaviour is not checked at this stage.

Their parents must recognise their description and have some idea where they were at that time.

I am one York resident heartily sickened by the extent of the graffiti vandalism which is now prevalent in our lovely city, and the anti-social and yobbish behaviour we are subjected to in and around the city centre.

I do my best to tackle any incidents which I witness, but to little avail.

The sooner the powers-that-be adopt a zero tolerance approach the better, or the council's efforts to promote York as a tourist city which is clean and safe and a pleasure to visit will be wasted.

Even more importantly, York residents themselves have a right to a safer and more pleasant environment.

Mrs S Puckrin,

Jamieson Terrace,

South Bank, York.

Updated: 09:32 Friday, March 18, 2005