A 16 -year-old has been arrested on suspicion of daubing hate slogans in Enfield Town park toilets.

The young graffiti artist is alleged to have expressed homophobic sentiments and could face a community service order or fine if he is found guilty of criminal damage.

The arrest by a Police Community Support Officer was the first made in a borough-wide campaign to wipe out graffiti. Enfield council recently launched its Bag A Tagger scheme which offers £500 to people whose tip-off results in the prosecution of a tag artist.

Mike Rye, ileader of the council, said the authority was committed to wiping out what it sees as an urban blight. "I urge everyone who cares about our environment and has information to call the police," he said.