Graffiti vandals will be encouraged to create murals as part of plans to tackle the problem.

Thanet council cabinet members agreed the strategy, which will concentrate on enforcement, prevention, removal and diversion.

Plans will be drawn up to encourage youths at risk of becoming involved in graffiti to design murals instead to benefit the community.

Other proposals in the document, produced by the Thanet Community Safety Partnership, Kent Police and Thanet council, are to continue Operation Tag to catch graffiti vandals, the continued use of covert CCTV cameras and using anti-graffiti paint on known hot spots.

Cllr Jo Gideon, cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods, health and communities, said: “We know graffiti is an issue that matters to local people and it’s one we’re determined to tackle.”

But the way the council tackles graffiti problems is being challenged by a Broadstairs resident whose house has been covered in tags for weeks.

A side wall of Gill Kilner’s house in St Peter’s faces an alleyway and was featured in an anti-graffiti campaign last year.

Mrs Kilner says there is more graffiti than ever on the wall now. She said: “I’ve reported this to the council who said they would send somebody round, but nothing has happened.

“Once the mess is removed, I can arrange to have anti-graffiti paint put on the wall.”