Villagers have put up a reward to catch vandals who are targeting their community.

The move, by Kennington Parish Council, follows obscene graffiti being scrawled across the sports pavilion, at the end of Playfield Road, and the destruction of a public seat.

The grafitti consists of terms of abuse and so-called 'tags', the coded names of the vandals.

Parish clerk Pam Johnston suggested £500 would put a stop to the trouble.

But at a meeting last week parish councillors were so incensed by the graffiti they upped the reward to £750.

Ted Perkins said the playing fields were becoming a particular target.

"We've a seat that has been there for years just ripped away, as well as this graffiti. It's disgraceful," he said.

Fellow councillor Glyn Ellis added: "The graffiti is obscene and needs to be covered up."

Councillors agreed to put up the reward despite con- cern the move might give youngsters street credibility and make the problem worse.

Mrs Johnston is currently arranging for the graffiti to be removed. It is expected to cost more than £300. The Vale of White Horse District Council said it was unable to help with a clean-up.

Vale spokesman Gavin Walton said the district council was not legally required to remove the graffiti, as it was on private land.

George Ross, secretary of the Kennington Playing Fields Association, welcomed the decision to offer the reward and vowed not to give up the fight against the vandals.

He said: "The graffiti is all over the outside of the pavilion and it's obscene.

"There are some extremely nasty words and it's right alongside the children's play area. Some adults might find the words offensive as well.

"It's very disappointing - it's a building used by the young people, so the vandals are only really defacing their own facility."

He added: "We're extremely pleased the council agreed to introduce the reward and increase the amount."

Mr Ross, a former parish clerk, said he hoped signs encouraging people to shop vandals would act as a much-needed deterrent and stop instances of graffiti becoming a regularity.

Anyone with information should call the police on 08458 505505.