OFFENDERS serving criminal punishment orders are putting something back into the community in St Helens by declaring war on graffiti.

They are clearing away the scrawlings and chewing gum from buildings at five St Helens schools.

The Graffiti Removal project, funded by Neighbourhood Renewal, involves St Helens Council, Merseyside Probation Service and the Safer Merseyside Partnership working together. Supervised by staff from Merseyside Probationary Service and working with the Council's graffiti removal team, the offenders will use specialised environmentally friendly chemicals to remove the graffiti.

Council Leader Marie Rimmer, chair of the Local Strategic Partnership which oversees the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, said: "This is a valuable scheme which gives offenders the chance to put something back into the community and to help make the environment a cleaner more pleasant place for everyone."