A transport chief has condemned the “stupidity” of vandals who daubed graffiti, hurled paint at a railway station and ran amok in streets nearby.

Police are investigating the vandalism attack, which is believed to have happened in the early hours of yesterday at Ben Rhydding station near Ilkley.

West Yorkshire Police officers patrolling near the station discovered six-foot white painted letters spelling “LS29” – the area’s postcode – the name “Shane” and paint covering the window of a car parked in the station car park.

There was also paint splattered on information boards around the station and a tin of paint had been hurled in Valley Drive.

“It is a mess,” said Bradford Councillor Chris Greaves, who is chairman of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority.

“The whole things seems completely stupid, pointless and futile to me.”

Motorists driving down Valley Drive had also spread the white paint up the street, said Coun Greaves, who visited the station yesterday afternoon.

Commuters arriving at the station to catch morning trains reported the vandalism to Ilkley police and British Transport Police (BTP).

One commuter who has used the Wharfedale Line for 20 years described the vandalism as the worst he had seen yet.

Coun Greaves (Con, Wharfedale) said: “There are six-foot letters painted with a four-inch thick brush spelling out the postcode. You would think the people of Ben Rhydding would know their postcode!

“It is rather irritating as there is a cost involved in removing the paint. At the end of the day, this is going to cost the passengers and that is totally unfair. They are having to pay for this pointless vandalism.”

He added: “When the police catch them, it would seem appropriate them to be made to clean it up – preferably in the rain.”

A BTP spokesman confirmed that they had received reports of vandalism and West Yorkshire Police confirmed it was investigating with BTP.

Cleaners who arrived at Ben Rhydding Station for a routine cleaning of the litter bins were forced to begin the clean-up operation themselves.

A spokesman for Metro, the operating arm of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, urged people to report any incidents of vandalism.

She said: “This is disappointing and not something that we like to see happen. If anyone sees any more vandalism, they should report it to British Transport Police.”

An e-mail address for people to report railway vandalism has been set up at graffiticrime@btp.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.