Rail operator South Central has offered a reward for information after graffiti vandals caused more than £4,000 of damage to a new train.

The Electrostar train had not gone into service when the vandals struck while it was parked at Brighton station.

Graffiti was painted along the sides of two carriages of the four-coach train, the first of the operator's modern four-car units.

David Hynes, South Central's head of security, said the firm was putting up a reward of £1,000 for information that led to prosecution of the vandals.

He said: "We are deeply saddened that, at a time when we are trying to provide our customers with improved trains, some members of the community engaged in criminal acts like this spoil a new train."

The attack occurred some time between midnight and 6am Tuesday last week.

Inspector Gary Amcell, of British Transport Police (BTP) in Brighton, said: "We have got CCTV footage that we are looking at but if anybody has any information then they should get in touch with us."

Last August vandals targeted the first set of nine carriages from a new £216 million order while they were undergoing trial runs.

Anybody with information should contact BTP on 020 7391 5275.