A BOLD graffiti artist has risked life and limb to scale buildings around Bournemouth to spray paint huge tags.

The spree has cost local businesses thousands of pounds in paying specialist contractors to remove the writing, which often appears in letters five feet high.

The word "Sent" on the dome above Debenhams in the Square in Bournemouth, which appeared last month, cost £1,500 to remove and the same tag above clothing store H&M in March cost £1,000 to remove.

Bournemouth Police are appealing to members of the public to help with their investigations by reporting any of five tags that they spot around town; Sent, Toy, Mute, Ways and Chronic are usually written in childish bubble writing.

Police Constable Dave Fish said: "This has been going on since about mid March. It is the scale and the audacity of these tags in such prominent places that is surprising.

"Now we need members of the public to come forward and report to us. We know five of these tags but there might be more.

"Each tag is a crime against someone's property.

"Graffiti lowers the tone of the town and increases the fear of crime."

Supermarkets, clothes shops, pet shops, bus shelters, cinemas, garages, a clock shop, a Chinese restaurant and telephone kiosks have all been targeted across Bournemouth town centre and Kinson since March.

PC Chris Webb said: "We have 11 confirmed tags and I am investigating about five more. We suspect that there may be more in Southbourne and Boscombe.

"The thing is these tags take just seconds to do."

Mark Williams, estates inspection officer for Bournemouth Borough Council, said: "The council offers a zero tolerance policy towards any kind of antisocial behaviour including graffiti. If we catch people they will be prosecuted."

An 18-year-old man from Kinson has been released on bail and is helping police with inquiries.

Anyone who sees one of these tags should contact Dave Fish or Chris Webb on 01202 222222.