Toilets get mural makeover to help halt vandalism

The toilet block mural features Royal Wootton Bassett landmarks

A toilet block has been painted by teenagers in an attempt by police to stop vandalism in a Wiltshire town.

The public toilets in Royal Wootton Bassett had been repeatedly daubed with spray paint and their doors damaged, leading to thousands of pounds of repairs needing to be done.

A mural design competition was proposed by Wiltshire PCSO Kelly Hillier which she hoped would engage Royal Wootton Bassett Academy students, as well as improve the appearance of the building.

The winning design, featuring local landmarks including the old town hall and St Bartholomew's church, was painted by school pupils over their half-term holiday at the Borough Fields shopping centre site.

PCSO Hiller said the vandalism had been a great cost to the town council.

She added: "I hope it achieves a sense of love for the community: let's look after the community, let's not destroy it.

"I'm hoping that youths will see it, and if they do want to hang out here it's a nice area, not dull."

Shoppers in the town welcomed the mural. Sarah Perkins said: "I think its an absolutely inspired idea, I love it, it's bright and it's cheerful."

Paul Wrathall added: "I think it's a good idea, because it was vandalised and it looks so much nicer now and it matches Bassett, doesn't it?"