A CHRISTCHURCH couple has been left upset after BCP Council told them to remove graffiti left by vandals. 

Jade Jones and her partner Zoe Neil had racist and crude graffiti plastered over the fence of their home in Burton Road, Christchurch.

Jade expressed disappointment that BCP Council offered no help to remove the graffiti and stated she felt 'threatened' by the local authority. 

She said: "We're a victim of crime and instead of helping us, you're taking this opportunity to threaten us with legal action if we don't get this sorted. 

"The frustrating thing is my partner bought the house three years ago on her own and moved to Christchurch thinking it was a gorgeous area with low crime rates. This is the second time this happened."

Jade and Zoe's home was not the only one attacked, with a number of homes becoming victims of a slew of graffiti. 

This included their neighbour, an 82-year-old woman, who had to also remove the graffiti from her property. 

Jade said: "One of our neighbours who is 82-years-old was out there with her son scrubbing at it for about six hours.

"It's making us want to move directly out of Christchurch. We feel totally vulnerable. It's such an exposed area with no lighting, no cameras, and we've had people come into our garden and steal parcels. 

"You start to feel vulnerable when you have nobody to turn to. Where's my protection?"

Part of the reason the council wanted the graffiti removed, Jade explained, was that the fence borders a path commonly walked by school children.

Cllr Andy Martin, BCP Council cabinet member for customer, communications and culture, said: “We do sympathise with Ms Neil over the criminal damage caused to her property.

“Vandalism of this nature is inexcusable, and we would encourage her to continue to report any repeat offences to the police.

“The responsibility for the removal of offensive graffiti is something that does sit legally with the land owner.

"BCP Council are unable to cover the cost of work to remove graffiti from private property.”