A 14-year-old youth has been forced to clean up graffiti he sprayed on buildings and other property in Redditch.

He was supplied with gloves and special wipes and given a week to clear up the damage.

The youth had daubed graffiti tags several feet high on buildings, fence panels, trees and house walls in Matchborough.

More than 20 tags were involved, many of them painted on property belonging to Redditch Council.

Local policing officer PC Paul Downes said: "The youth was happy to clear up the damage rather than face the prospect of going to court and the council, which was the victim in this case, was content that the mess was going to be removed.

"It was the first time this lad had been involved in trouble and with everyone's agreement this was felt to be a more proportionate way of dealing with it.

“Hopefully it has nipped any future problems in the bud and he will have learned from the experience.”

He was made to do it under a community resolution.

Although the offence is recorded against him and stays on his file it does not count as a conviction and the youth will not have a criminal record.

Matchborough Councillor Juliet Brunner said: "Vandalism of this nature costs the taxpayer thousands of pounds which could be better spent on other things for the benefit of the community.

“I support the community payback approach in this instance and hope that the perpetrator has learned a valuable lesson."

Redditch councillor Rebecca Blake, responsible for community safety, added: "For a first time offence of this nature, it is more constructive for the community to have the offender put right the damage they have caused.

"Removing the graffiti would have taken more time and effort than to commit the crime itself and the 14-year-old took responsibility for his actions.”