A PAIR of town centre landlords have called for a clean-up campaign in Redditch.

Sue Sumner and Paul Thomas, joint licensees of the Golden Cross pub, are concerned by the condition of the area around the railway station, especially graffiti.

"When visitors arrive for the first time in Redditch, they witness what can only be described as desolation," said Mr Thomas.

"It's not just the graffiti we are concerned about, it's the impression Redditch railway station and surrounding area gives to visitors."

The pair's calls follow complaints by Church Green businesses last week, reported in the Advertiser, over the amount of graffiti in the town centre.

Owners of shops and businesses in Church Green East and West hit out at vandals who regularly attacked their buildings, not only costing money in repairs and cleaning but also making the area look unappealing.

Mr Thomas said rubbish on the rail tracks, broken factory windows, broken fences and walls and gangs of children gathering outside the Kingfisher Centre entrance and intimidating visitors all contributed to a negative lasting impression of Redditch.

He said they had spent a great deal of time and money making the The Golden Cross pleasant and welcoming but it was spoilt by the surrounding area.

"It's no wonder there appears to be less people coming to Redditch this year than last. We could do with a Clean-up Redditch Campaign."

A council spokesman said there was little they could do as only a small portion of the land was their responsibility.

And in a statement to the Advertiser last week, Sgt Julian Smith, of Redditch police, reassured the community that police took graffiti seriously.

"We do not view graffiti as art but as criminal damage and we'll push for the maximum penalties for anyone caught spraying paint on walls or cars in this way," he said.

"We do have several lines of inquiry which we are following up and we are confident of bringing the offenders to justice."