TEENAGERS in Dorchester are hitting back at graffiti yobs - with paintbrushes.

A group of youngsters volunteered to clean up a Dorchester arcade after shopkeeper Shaun Samways spoke out about the damage done by vandals.

Today he spoke of his delight that the teenagers were willing to put right the damage done by other people at the Hardye Arcade.

Mr Samways said the offer had restored his faith in human nature.

He said: "I think it's fantastic that they have offered to do this. They have had nothing to do with any graffiti or damage yet they want to clean it up. Thy deserve a pat on the back."

The youngsters volunteered after talking to PCSO Mark Wodarek-Black.

He said he was looking for a way to resolve the problem of persistent graffiti and mentioned it to several young people he knew in the town.

PCSO Wodarek-Black said: "They have never been in trouble at all and they wanted to show that young people can play their part in the community.

"When they heard about the graffiti they said they wanted to do something about it. They also said they want me to lend them a hand so I'll be involved too.

"If graffiti is left it will only get worse. Hopefully, getting rid of the graffiti will make people less likely to do it again."

Mr Samways, who has two shops in the arcade - the Dog House pet supplies and the Potting Shed for garden supplies and bird food - said he had previously cleaned up the blank wall alongside Country Casuals only to see the graffiti appear again.

He added that the work would be done within the next couple of weeks and that he planned to monitor the wall afterwards to watch out for any fresh graffiti.

He said: "It's fantastic that young people are willing to do this. It's only a small minority of people that cause the damage and this shows that there are others who want to help the community.

"It's restored my faith in human nature."