The project was funded by the Dorset Community Safety Partnership, which is made up of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset Police and Dorset Probation Trust and other organisations.

Councillor Geoff Petherick, Community Safety Portfolio Holder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “This is a great project that will help clean up the streets of Weymouth and help spruce up the borough.

“It is a good initiative because it gives people a chance to repay society and give something back to the community.

“We are asking the public to report graffiti to us so we can try and get it cleaned-up.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Community Safety Team will direct the project to areas where graffiti is a problem.

If you would like to report graffiti please ring the team on 01305 226506. Graffiti can only be removed if the property owner gives permission.

The offenders, who will be supervised by the Dorset Probation Trust’s Community Payback Unit, will get to work every Thursday for eight weeks.

Alongside project Wipe Out, Safer Neighbourhood Officers from Dorset Police will tour schools to encourage young people to respect their streets and report graffiti if they see it.

The accompanying picture shows Weymouth & Portland Borough Council brief holder Geoff Petherick and PCSO Mark Benwell inspecting graffiti in Weymouth which might be tackled by the offenders.

More information will follow when the project is underway and offenders are in action.

For more information please contact Councillor Geoff Petherick on 01305 837499.