Residents and businesses near Worthing's central rail station are demanding council action to end a graffiti plague.

Houses, businesses and walls in Cross Street are covered in vandals' spray-paint "tags".

Six months ago Worthing council decided to spend £30,000 on a two-man graffiti hit squad to clean up - but all the quotes it has since received are for more than twice that amount.

A decision on whether to go ahead will be made within the next month.

John Waywell, a Cross Street resident for four years, said: "It has really gone downhill. It used to be a bit rowdy at weekends but as clubs stayed open later and later there has been progressively more damage to the houses.

"The crews of kids who do it are starting to get territorial. The kids on Cross Street do it and then the guys from Teville Gate come and graffiti over the top."

John Scrace, manager of cab firm Worthing Central Cars, said: "Every wall and every window is covered in graffiti.

"We pay our rates for this place and it's a fortune but the council hasn't done anything.

"I'd go mad if I tried to paint over it. I'd be doing it every five minutes. There's no incentive to try and do the place up."

Council community safety officer Mike Rumble said: "We are only responsible for graffiti on council-owned property not private property. But we do sometimes remove it from private property if we have the resources.

"I was not aware of any problem with graffiti in Cross Street but I will get the team to take a look at it.

"We may also be able to loan graffiti-removal kits to anyone who is concerned about vandalism on their property."

He said Operation Genie, which has been successful in targeting graffiti in the Durrington and Maybridge areas, might be extended to the town centre in the next year.