A graffiti-busting cash injection has been promised to tackle the unsightly scrawls blighting Worthing's estates.

West Sussex County Council has pledged £20,000 to combat vandalism and graffiti in the town.

The fund will be dedicated to preventing the problem, with a focus on giving youngsters something constructive to do instead.

Worthing Borough Councillor Mark O'Keeffe is at the helm of the graffiti-busting initiative Project Genie.

The money will be spent by the Project Genie work team, which is already focusing on the town's graffiti problem.

Coun O'Keeffe said: "We are looking at stepping up community policing in Maybridge and Durrington, where the problem is at its worst.

"We are also looking at community initiatives, like paint-out sessions where we could get the kids involved in painting out the graffiti themselves.

"It would be good to organise events similar to the SNAP discos for older kids.

"Those events are for over-11s, but actually a lot of the kids responsible for this graffiti are eight or nine. We will be looking at diversionary activities for this age group."

Mr O'Keeffe said the team would also launch a poster campaign in a bid to raise awareness. He said few people realised they could call 999 if they caught someone in the act of spraying graffiti.

"Education is important. Some kids don't realise it is a criminal offence. They need to be told it is wrong, and they need something else to do instead."

The Project Genie team includes community police officers, church groups, youth services, councillors and the town's community safety officer.