Brighton and Hove City Council should be congratulated for the improvement in street cleaning over the past six months.

It is therefore disappointing graffiti is becoming worse. Clearing it up seems to have stopped completely.

Western Road and The Lanes look terrible and they are our city's shop window to the world.

The parking ticket machines (owned and operated by the council) in Hova Villas and other roads in Hove have been covered in ugly scrawl for months, with no attempt by the council to clear up.

There's graffiti on Hove Crown Court and the rear entrance to Brighton Police Station.

The Post Office in Western Road is covered in scribble.

The public authorities have to set an example in this regard.

Graffiti is ugly, depressing, fear-inducing and a direct cause of serious crime. Clearing it up is a proven method of stopping its spread.

A bit more effort on this count would be appreciated by local residents and visitors.

-Graham Cox, Hova Villas, Hove