received a hard lesson last week.

They learned graffiti was far easier to apply than to wipe off.

The five were put to work after Warwick Academy discovered they had a hand in graffiti on benches at Hamilton's Par-La-Ville Park last weekend.

The cleaning material, including a high-powered chemical, was provided by the Corporation of Hamilton.

Said Corporation secretary Roger Sherratt: "We got a call from someone complaining about the graffiti and we received some information about who was thought responsible.'' Within an hour of being contacted, Warwick Academy phoned back to say the culprits -- or at least some of them -- had been identified.

"They soon found out graffiti is difficult to remove,'' said Mr. Sherratt.

It took the youngsters -- who apologised to Hamilton Mayor William Boyle -- about an hour to remove most of their handiwork.

EDUCATION ED