A new mural running alongside Bridport Football Club has been vandalised.

Police are investigating two separate incidents of graffiti in Bridport.

They are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Police received a report that overnight on Monday, 1 August, that the new mural – commissioned by Bridport Arts Centre with funding support from Bridport Town Council – at Bridport Football Club was defaced with a large graffiti ‘tag’.

A second report was received that overnight on Wednesday, 3 August, an existing mural – also funded by the Bridport Town Council and installed by community artists and young people – on the northern wall of Bridport Football Club had been similarly defaced with a large graffiti ‘tag’.

Police Constable Kirsti Frecknall, of West Dorset police, said: “We are carrying out enquiries into this graffiti, and believe that this may be linked to similar graffiti that has also been reported in the Lyme Regis and Charmouth areas. I would urge anyone with information that might assist our investigation to please come forward”

As reported, a new mural was unveiled at the all ground last month.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

  • The mural was unvelied in July                         Picture: Jennifer Mulcahey

The piece is a youth-led project and has resulted in the creation of the UK’s longest mural reaching an impressive 133 metres long. This accolade was previously held by a mural in Doncaster which measured 108 metres in length.

The aim of the mural project was to encourage young people to design and create an ambitious artwork in the town that celebrated the local area and gave voice to their views for the future.

Unfortunately, prior to the latest two incidents of graffiti, the artwork fell victim to vandalism days after completion. Thankfully, on that occasion, it was restored within 24 hours of it being reported to Bridport Town Council.

Anyone with information on the latest incidents is asked to contact Dorset Police dorset.police.uk/contact, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting number 55220128130.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.