AN Ilkley company specialising in removing graffiti has found itself an unlikely customer on its own doorstep.

In recent weeks, shocked walkers on Ilkley Moor have discovered that the ancient rocks have been defaced by louts scrawling graffiti all over them.

It is an on-going problem which surfaces year after year.

Railway carriage type 'tagging' slogans had been spray painted on rocks last year and some of the crudely carved inscriptions dating from Victorian times show that it is not a uniquely modern phenomena.

But this year attempts to remove unsightly scrawlings have been helped by a specialised team of technicians from the company Graffitifree, of The Grove Prom-enade.

The specialist mobile unit and its array of eco-friendly products set to work at once. After applying the remover the team waited 20 minutes before rinsing it off again.

Sam Labadie, of Graffitifree, said: "The proliferation of graffiti - tags, symbols, and offensive statements, is a problem to councils and businesses across the UK.

"It is a known fact that when graffiti is not removed it encourages others to add to it.

"The moor is an integral part of life in Ilkley and we are very pleased to be able to assist the council by removing these unsightly markings without further damage to the environment."

The team were joined by Ilkley District and Parish Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford's environment chief.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "Keeping our district clean and tidy is one of the council's top priorities and we are delighted that a local company has been able to do that.

"Ilkley Moor is a major tourist attraction and a source of pride for local people so it was important that this graffiti was removed and we shall continue to make sure it stays graffiti-free."

Part of the Bio Natura Group, a supplier of specialist cleaning products, Graffitifree was laun-ched this month.

Its range of graffiti control products is specially formulated to be bio-degradable, non-toxic and harmless to the surrounding environment and the public.

The company is also offering businesses, schools, councils and other organisations a 24-hour mobile call out service to clean up graffiti wherever it is.

Ms Labadie said: "Councils and businesses right across the UK are working round the clock to eradicate graffiti as soon as it goes up. The chemicals many removal teams use can cause damage to the natural ecosystem. Where strong solvents are used, time-consuming precautions make the operations slow and tedious.

"There is always the risk that dangerous chemicals could destroy nearby plants, animals and habitats or find their way into rivers, streams and even the human food chain."

She said that the company's cleaning products were safe to handle and wash away after use.