A COMMUNITY group has shown its determination to combat vandalism by planning to paint beautiful murals on Canvey.

The Friends of Concord Beach group work hard to make the beach more attractive for visitors and the public and the group is now about to create murals depicting historic importance on the seawall off Beveland Road.

The plans come as police step up their presence on the island after bins and benches were vandalised.

Colin Letchford, 69, from the group, has vowed not to let the vandalism stop efforts to spruce up the beach.

He said the murals will help to tell tales of the history of Canvey.

He added: “We have been wanted to paint more murals at the Point for some time and now that the weather is so much better we can finally get out and start painting.

“We are in need of more artists and volunteers to help us paint the murals so we are asking people to come forward and offer us their help. We will provide all the materials for the artworks but we need the volunteers to help create the murals. Thankfully we have artists who have volunteered for the fishing boat mural work and so we will be starting working very soon.

“We are just asking people to keep an eye out and watch this space.”

There will be two initial murals, one of an old concrete barge that was off the beach on Canvey and another of a fishing boat called the Viking.

Sgt Mark McQuade, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, said that police are patrolling the vandalism hotspots on Canvey to catch the culprits responsible.

He said: “We take all reports of antisocial behaviour seriously and have previously served community protection warnings on a number of individuals.

“We have also been completing regular patrols in the area and have working closely with our partners in tackling such crimes.

“Anyone who has concerns or witnesses antisocial behaviour can call Canvey police station on 101 or report it online at essex.police.uk/do-it-online.”

The Echo reported recently how vandals had destroyed bins and sprayed graffiti over murals at Concord Beach.