A mural created to deter vandals in Royal Wootton Bassett has been vandalised less than a week after its unveiling.
The large artwork, painted on the walls of the Borough Fields public toilets, was defaced in the early hours of this morning (Friday) when a vandal threw paint over it.
CCTV footage, reviewed by the town council, shows an individual walking up Station Road at 3.12am carrying a large can of paint.
The suspect crossed the High Street, headed down Wood Street and into the Borough Fields area, where they left the can before returning to hurl it at the mural.
The incident has been reported to Wiltshire Police and the footage has been passed to officers. The suspect is said to have been wearing a distinctive sweatshirt.
The town council’s Grounds Team is now working to clean up the mess and assess the extent of the damage.
The mural was painted during the October half-term as part of a joint community project aimed at reducing vandalism in the area.
It was the winning design in a competition run by Police Community Support Officer Kelly Hillier, in partnership with Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.
Seventeen-year-old Emma Beet’s design was chosen from dozens of entries and brought to life with the help of students, teachers and local police.
The artwork, featuring key town landmarks, aimed to replace a graffiti hotspot with something the community could take pride in.
PCSO Hillier previously said: “I wanted to encourage local young people to take pride in their surroundings and help make the building less of a target for vandalism.”
Mayor Steve Bucknell described the mural as “a fantastic example of what can be achieved when young people and the community work together”.
Funding came from Swindon Lions and a local benefactor, with support from local artists Marilyn Trew and Angela Vincent.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting reference number CDS-28109-25-5400-000.
