Reading Borough Council has beefed up its anti-graffiti programme after naughty taggers ignored the 1m² free clean up rule in force across the borough. Despite catching several high profile taggers, graffiti continues to appear across Reading and the council has now decided to get tough.

One Streetcare manager told us: "We have no option really. Health and safety won't allow us to scale the tower block outside the station to clean it up, so we're going to have to demolish it. It's the only way to safely remove it and John Madejski has kindly agreed to sponsor the programme."

Developers across Reading have welcomed the new policy and the King's Meadow baths have been scheduled for work on a new marina priority graffiti removal.