Two teenagers are to appear in court accused of daubing graffiti across Worthing.

Jamie Backhus, 19, and a 17- year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Chichester Crown Court charged with plotting to deface sites across the town over the Christmas and New Year period.

Police have been investigating the vandalism spree for more than three months, including launching a covert operation.

Hundreds of graffiti tags, including swastikas, were sprayed across Worthing’s seafront on the Lido as well as car parks, street signs, beach chalets, ice cream kiosks, fishing boats, toilet blocks, railings and telephone boxes.

The damage was so extensive that council cleaning contractors struggled to keep up. Backhus and the 17-year-old have been charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Both will appear at the crown court on August 6.