COUNCIL chiefs today asked the public to turn detective and help identify the borough's most prolific graffiti vandal.

The yob, who has caused thousands of pounds of damage to buildings, bridges and stone work in the last two months, does so with the tag' NG.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council chiefs hope by going public with their photographic evidence that someone will recognise the initials and turn the culprit in.

The vandal daubs graffiti on buildings across the town centre and the Bank Top area with these initials and his graffiti has also been seen at Blackburn Railway Station.

The clean-up exercise to remove his writing has already cost thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money so the council has decided to go public in a bid to bring the vandalism to an end.

The appeal comes as the council launches a crack-down on anti-social behaviour in the borough.

As part of a new scheme the council plans to use for the first time mobile CCTV cameras to catch vandals and criminals in trouble-spot areas.

The cameras will also be used to target fly-tippers, people who drop litter and those who vandalise schools.

In January the council prosecuted teenage graffiti artist James Alexander Bonnick who was responsible for painting the word 'Minki' at dozens of sites between July and December 2005. He faced three charges of criminal damage and was believed to be responsible for at least 24 other incidents involving his tag' at a cost to the tax payer of more than £5,000.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods at the council, said the vandalism was now getting out of hand and if caught the council would look to prosecute the individual responsible.

"The council will prosecute this kind of activity when given the chance but to do so we need to gather the evidence.

"I would urge anyone who may have any information on this to come forward."

l If readers think they know who the vandal is they should phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.