Graffiti in Oxford could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to an unusual organic experiment being carried out.

Chemical detergents may be abandoned if tests carried out using a simple mixture of orange and milk prove successful.

Orange and milk does the trick, the council says

The environmentally- friendly solution is being tried out in parts of west and north Oxford.

Susanna Pressel, city councillor for the Jericho and Osney ward, is pictured, right, with Osney Island Residents' Association secretary Anna Truelove, cleaning up at Botley Road.

The city council is seeking volunteers to test the mixture on vandalised surfaces near their homes.

The mixture of orange peel and soured milk has already proved successful in trials carried out elsewhere in the country.

The mixture is smeared on to graffiti and then rinsed off with water.

It breaks down the PVC adhesive binding the paint to the vandalised surface, making it easy to remove.

Ms Pressel said: "When I heard about the success of this scheme in Southampton, I thought it would be a great idea to bring it to Oxford.

"People in the trial areas who are interested should contact their councillor."