VANDALS have daubed unsightly graffiti on Portishead Open Air Pool – just hours after volunteers had cleaned the last lot off.

The attack on the rear side top wall of the lido came just hours after volunteers had painted over graffiti from a previous attack.

Volunteers Heather and Mike Pugh had been at the pool on Wednesday repainting the wall that had been daubed with black spray paint a few weeks earlier.

But just hours after they finished, the vandals were back, covering it again with similar black scrawl.

Mrs Pugh, who has been a volunteer for the last two years, discovered the repeat graffiti while out walking on Thursday morning.

Mrs Pugh, 63, said: "It took Mike and I about two hours to paint over the previous graffiti.

"As it was black spray paint we had to paint the wall white to cover it up and then paint it blue to match in with the rest of the building.

"We went up there the next morning to see if the paint looked all right and was surprised to see that within the space of just a few hours the vandals had been back.

"This time they seem to have used a black marker pen on the wall.

"It is disheartening to see it back after we spent time yesterday painting the wall."

Volunteer Ann Hailwood described the vandal attack as "infuriating".

Mrs Hailwood said: "Only yesterday, volunteers painted over graffiti on the wall. Then during the night, this new graffiti has appeared. It is infuriating and upsetting.

"I can't understand why people do this to a community asset. It's heartbreaking for volunteers putting in hours trying to make the place look nice when people damage it again."

The pool has fallen victim to graffiti attacks in the past.

During the makeover of the lido by Ty Pennington in 2009 as part of the TV programme, Ty's Great British Adventure, a professional graffiti artist was brought in to paint a mural on the back wall.

But this, too, has suffered at the hands of vandals who have scrawled graffiti on it and it now needs redoing.

Earlier this year a Banksy style artwork appeared on the side wall of the pool by the steps up to Battery Point.

The artwork features the words "Welcome to Portishead" but because of its Banksy style, trustees decided to let it remain there.

Trustees now plan to upgrade their security at the pool to prevent further attacks and are considering installing further CCTV cameras to watch over the outside of the building. They also want to repaint vulnerable parts of the building with anti-graffiti paint to prevent further attacks.

Trustee Jane Humphreys said: "We are appealing to people to keep their eyes open when they are in the area and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.

"We are also planning to put notices up on the building explaining that the pool is run entirely by volunteers and this sort of vandalism takes up a lot of their time and effort to deal with.

"We are also planning to upgrade our security and are considering putting in further CCTV cameras to cover the exterior of the building."

Trustees are appealing to local businesses and individuals to help with cost of painting the pool with anti-graffiti paint and are asking anyone who can assist to call them on 01275 843454 or to pop into the pool.

They are also trying to track down the original artists who painted the graffiti mural on the rear wall of the pool as it needs repairing and anyone who has information can contact dutymanager@portisheadopenairpool.org.

Anyone who has information about the vandal attack should call Portishead police on 0845 4567000.