Vandals are destroying a "close-knit'' Southampton neighbourhood as residents sit by and watch.

Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness and concerned Sunnyside Park resident Raymond Todd levelled this accusation yesterday after graffiti was sprawled along a wall bordering Horseshoe Road and a nearby bus shelter.

Mr. Todd, who has expressed concerns about the area in the past, told The Royal Gazette he was appalled to find the entire wall, road, and bus shelter covered with black spray paint.

"They had to have done this last night,'' said the vigilant resident who found the top of a spray paint can nearby. "Someone must have seen something.'' Speaking after contacting Crime Stoppers and Somerset Police, Mr.

Todd said: "Hundreds of tourists get off the bus here (opposite Horseshoe Bay) and as soon as they see "Quality 110th Street'' sure enough they will know it is a drug area.'' While the area did not have an official neighbourhood watch group, Mr. Todd explained that he and two other men, who were on disability leave from work, had been trying to keep an eye on the area.

And he noted that as recently as yesterday morning he and newspaper deliverer Dudley Simons washed out the bus shelter which smelled of urine.

"It is bad enough that tourists have to see this everyday,'' Mr. Todd said referring to the graffiti. "But this is just getting out of control.'' Stressing that he would not hesitate to take action against anyone he caught vandalising the area, Mr. Todd also urged area residents to take a stand against those bent on destroying their neighbourhood.

"They know what's going on,'' he said. "I have people contacting me during the day, saying you're right to complain about what's happening. But when I ask them what they intend to do about it they say they are working and too busy.

"But if I catch them (the vandals), they are going to court.'' Mr. Edness, who stumbled upon the graffiti yesterday during a morning walk, agreed.

"It's horrific,'' he said. "I would appeal to the neighbours who may have seen someone spray that wall and road to call Police on the code-a-phone. The public should become very conscious that this is a massive problem. It looks terrible. The whole area is deteriorating.'' Mr. Edness pointed out that the graffiti was not only an eyesore to residents and visitors, but depressing to children who played in the area and those who visited the nearby Southampton Rangers sports club.

"Neighbours ought to try to get together and paint the wall and keep a watch,'' he said. "Someone must have seen someone do that. That is a very tight-knit community. All the neighbours know each other. That's why I'm sure somebody must have seen something. People have got to put a stop to this.

"If they do not report it,'' Mr. Edness warned, "it has the potential to spread across the Island.'' Parish constable for the area Michelle Simons said she knew of no plans to step up patrols of the area.

But she said Police had spoken with Mr. Todd and planned to speak with him again to see what they could "work out''.