MINDLESS vandals covered a well-loved riverside Worcester statue in paint.

Furious council bosses insist that anyone caught for the offence must be prosecuted and made an example of.

Yobs poured brown paint over the swan statue in the attack, which is believed to have happened during Sunday night.

A city council cleaning squad had to be called out to clear up the mess on Monday, leading to calls for the culprits to be found.

The statue stands proudly on the promenade between Worcester Cathedral and South Quay and recognises the city's link with twin town Kleve in Germany.

County councillor Derek Prodger said he was devastated by what had happened.

"The idiots that did this to that sculpture ought to be sought out," he said.

"They must be prosecuted and made an example of, that's what I think.

"I know we have CCTV in that area but whether that will be able to identify the attackers, I don't know.

"It happened last year and got cleared up within 24 hours, but it costs money to have to do it.

"The magnificent statue has every right to be there, and we should make an example of whoever did this. It's a pretty sad way to behave. What a terrible shame, he said."

The city council's cabinet member for the environment Coun Allah Ditta said he was disappointed by the act.

He said: "It's awful isn't it. At the end of the day money from the law abiding public went on clearing up the mess these people left behind.

"You can't see much of the mess now we have managed to clear it up, but my message is that if anyone sees this kind of thing, report it so we can catch them."

A spokesman for South Worcestershire Police said anyone who saw the attack was asked to call them on 08457 444888.

A similar attack occurred on the statue in April, 2004 when graffiti saying `the swan made me do it' was daubed all over the plinth.

The statue is a replacement for an identical one stolen from the banks of the Severn 10 years ago.