VANDALS who were caught throwing paint on to a Hadleigh pavement are £300 poorer today to pay for clean-up costs.Two youths, who can not be named for legal reasons, were caught red-handed as they threw paint on to the path.

VANDALS who were caught throwing paint on to a Hadleigh pavement are £300 poorer today to pay for clean-up costs.

Two youths, who can not be named for legal reasons, were caught red-handed as they threw paint on to the path.

During a routine patrol of Hadleigh High Street, it was reported to police that two youngsters had been seen throwing paint from a moving car.

After further investigation by the police, two 16-year old boys admitted to the offence and agreed to pay the £300 clean-up costs.

Pc Anne Hart of Hadleigh police said: “The boys openly admitted to the vandalism and now accept that they must take responsibility for their behaviour.

“I hope that perpetrators of this type of crime now realise that they may ultimately pay for the damage they cause.”

The police contacted Babergh District Council, which is responsible for the clean up of littering offences across the district. Staff in the Waste Management Department heard how the youths had initially agreed to clean the paint from the pavement themselves. However it was agreed that professional cleaning contractors had to be brought in.

Jonas Grist, a technical officer with the waste management department at Babergh council, said: “We are always happy to work with the police to keep our streets clean and litter free. The boys in question have shown remorse for their actions and we will be recouping the contractors' costs from them in due course. I believe they have learnt their lesson.”

The paint has now been cleared from the pavements outside The George pub and Crabtree's coffee shop.

N What action do you think should be taken against vandals? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk