VANDALS have struck in a town centre subway just days after an artist completed a mural designed to keep them away.

Before the glaze on the dolphins painted on the walls had even dried, initials had been scratched into the paint.

Blackburn with Darwen council has now vowed to catch the people responsible for the "mindless" act.

Classical music and the dolphin mural were designed to stop a constant wave of graffiti underneath Salford, connecting the bus station part of town with Blackburn market.

The idea came after schemes in other parts of the country used classical music to prevent gangs from gathering in places where vandalism was high.

But despite the changes, initials and names have already been carved into the walls of the subway.

Market traders' association chairman Chris Appleby said: "Whatever you think about what the council does, you have to support things like that which are aimed at making the town centre a better place.

"Sometimes it seems like whatever happens to improve the town, there is always an element of the public that will vandalise it. It will be local people and I don't know why they do it.

"It just seems to be a sad part of life. It's all low-level stuff but it does detract from what people are trying to achieve in the town centre."

Over the past 12 months there has been a sudden increase in graffiti in the pedestrian subway, leading the council to draw up the £4,500 scheme. Artist Susan Bohm, who lives and works in Blackburn, was commissioned to do the mural, and finished the job last week.

Peter Hunt, director of regeneration and environment said: "Before the glaze had time to set, vandals scratched initials into the artwork. We hope to be able to repair the damage but will have to wait until the glaze has dried. We are determined to catch the people who commit these mindless acts and who want to spoil what is good about their own town."