East Devon District Council is seeking volunteers to help paint a mural on a community shelter in Phear Park in a bid to deter vandals.

The shelter has been repeatedly hit by bullying graffiti - so much so that the local authority once considered removing it due to repainting costs.

The new mural has been designed by young local artist Madeleine Dainton and will depict pond life, from fish to dragonflies, in "bold and bright colours".

Graffiti on the shelter in Phear Park (Nub News/ Will Goddard)

An EDDC spokesperson said: "The Phear Park shelter was previously repeatedly vandalised with nasty and victimising comments written about several children.

"Repainting cost hundreds of pounds in labour and material each time, leading the council to consider removing the shelter entirely.

"EDDC's Exmouth District Area Officer, Peter Crofts, approached Sea Dog Art to design and paint a mural to deter further vandalism.

"One of Sea Dog Art's other community projects, Abode of Love, has replaced graffiti on Exmouth's beach shelters with maximalist style underwater murals over the past year."

Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to join in with the painting, which takes place every Tuesday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.