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By Humphrey Carter THE graffiti “artists” and vandals are back with a vengeance in Calvia, with the latest target being the garden for remembrance for the victims of the Spanish Civil War.

The wall surrounding the supposedly sacred garden is awash with graffiti and the trunks and branches of some 66 saplings were broken and snapped in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

However, residents in Bendinat and Portals said yesterday that Calvia's graffiti problem is “worst than ever” despite claims and assurances from the local council that it is dealing with the situation.

Over a year ago, the local council said that it would have dealt with graffiti crisis before the start of the summer season 12 months on and the problem has spread as residents are, again, having to paint over the graffiti themselves.

The traditional Majorcan stone wall built round the new Port car park has not escaped the aim of the vandals' spray cans and they have even worked their way down the back streets of Portals, along the walkway down to the secluded beach, both sides of Bendinat and even the new property developments.

Local and foreign “Majorca living” residents living in and around Bendinat launched a major drive to try and persuade the council to take effective action last year - not just removing the graffiti but also teaching local children to respect their environment - but they feel seriously let down.

The campaign was led by Bendinat resident Peter Stringfellow who, having fallen in love with the area and set up his new home here was deeply angry and upset by all the vandalism.

He has met council chiefs to discuss the problem and was given the impression action would be taken.