Sometimes it seems everywhere you look in Brighton and Hove, the streets are awash with graffiti.

It has turned parts of the city into eyesores which both residents and tourists find offensive.

There is even a web site devoted to the resort's so-called "street art".

Some critics fear the battle is already lost and the sheer volume of graffiti on public and private property is so overwhelming it would take a generation to remove.

They have accused the council and the police of acting too late to stop the city being trashed.

Last year police said graffiti was low on their list of priorities but increasing indignation among the public has led to a rapid U-turn. Now taggers are being warned: "Your days are numbered."

Police have identified 14 vandals who are responsible for most of the graffiti in the city.

One has already been caught and the net is closing on the others, some of whom are professional people in their 20s.

Chief Inspector Peter Mills, head of police operations at Brighton, said: "What we have done across Brighton and Hove is listen to what the public is saying, listen to what traders are saying and listen to what police officers are saying.

"Consequently we have decided to put graffiti higher on our priorities and it is only a matter of time before we start catching these people."

Simon Fanshawe, chairman of the successful Place to Be Campaign, which achieved city status for Brighton and Hove, said: "I think we have got very serious problems.

"I call it littering with paint. It's exactly like throwing rubbish on the floor. They are like cats spraying their territory and we have to rub it out immediately. The war is never lost.

"The police are building up a picture of these people. Our image of taggers is that of a scrawny teenager but some of them are up to 30 years old.

"It is absolutely crucial that if anybody has their building tagged they should paint it out as soon as possible. All the evidence shows that if you leave it they come back and colour it in.

"Take your own action. Try and find out anything you know about them and give the information to the police.

"Graffiti creates a feeling that the streets aren't safe. It is terribly anti-social. We have had to bring a lot of pressure to bear on the police to make sure that things like graffiti are part of their priority targets.

"How we feel about the city as we walk round is a very important test of the strength of our economy and our quality of life."

Tony Mernagh, Brighton city centre manager, said the city's Business Forum was drawing up a graffiti strategy which would be unveiled soon.

He said a survey had been conducted to identify the worst areas.

Mr Mernagh said: "The problem is not as widespread as you would imagine but where it is bad it's very bad.

"Everybody is horrified by graffiti. I am not going to try and put any gloss on it. Graffiti is a big problem and needs to be tackled.

"To think nobody cares would be a big mistake. There are a great many people out there who do care and are actually trying to do something about it."

He said vandals would face multiple prosecutions for each tag they daubed on walls or street furniture.

Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the opposition Tory group on Brighton and Hove City Council, said the council had failed to get on top of the problem and as a result graffiti was out of control.

He said: "You don't see this level of graffiti in comparable cities and the question is why?

"If you don't get rid of graffiti it just carries on. You have got to get rid of it quickly. If you don't it breeds more and more.

"You have just got to get on with it and put some effort into getting rid of it fast."

He called on the council to plough more resources into the eradication of graffiti and offer more help to private home owners whose property had been targeted.

Christine Simpson, chairman of the council's environment scrutiny board, said people who claimed the battle was lost were being too pessimistic.

She said: "I wouldn't accept it has been low in the council's priorities at all. Graffiti is a very difficult problem to overcome. It can be removed one day and replaced the next. We shall be looking at how our response to graffiti can be improved.

"The police are taking a much more pro-active line with graffiti.

"They are being more aggressive in pursuing the people doing this.

"I am not saying we can stop graffiti dead but I am sure we can reduce it and respond more more quickly to eliminate it."

Asked whether the council would commit more money and manpower, Coun Simpson said: "The council will have to consider it alongside other priorities. Maybe it will need to increase its activity in this area.

"Where people are not able to deal with graffiti on their own, sometimes it could be necessary for the council to help out in some way or another but the council's resources go only so far."

A council spokesman said: "The battle is definitely not lost, otherwise we wouldn't be working with the police and the Brighton Business Forum to come up with a joint strategy on combating graffiti.

"Our budget is £80,000 per year. There is a dedicated two-man graffiti team, plus the other area teams which also deal with graffiti, but it is only part of their work.

"Our contract with Sita specifies the provision of a specialist graffiti removal team that operates primarily in the centre of Brighton and Hove, working Monday to Friday, but not weekends or bank holidays.

"The team patrols a set daily route and removes graffiti from the front elevations of buildings, both public and privately-owned, and from street furniture on a daily basis.

"This service is provided free to property owners by prior arrangement.

"A signed disclaimer is required for us to work on private property."

But a tougher stance requires back-up from the courts.

Mr Mills said: "The courts have been circulated with our list of priorities and we hope the magistrates will take account of them and adjust their sentences accordingly."

TOMORROW: The slum in the heart of the city