A VANDALISM hit squad has cleaned up some of Bicester's worst hotspots - and is now on the look out for more.

The newly-formed team of police and council officials spotted areas blighted by litter, graffiti and criminal damage.

Armed with checklists and digital cameras they recorded the damage, worked out whose responsibility it was, and pushed for it to be cleared up.

And now, two months later, the team has sorted out almost all the problems.

Known as an environmental and visual audit (Eva), the blitz was part of the new neighbourhood policing initiative.

The hotspots identified in the Bicester West area included litter, graffiti, a broken fence, an overgrown tree and a broken phone box.

Alex Locke, police community support officer, said: "The graffiti has gone. The broken fence is being looked into by the housing authorities.

"They have chopped down the tree in Bowmont Square and that has made a real difference to our CCTV.

"And the phone box has been mended - that was done within three or four days by British Telecom."

Neighbourhood sergeant Steve Birchall said overgrown hedges by Bure Park School, which were making it dangerous for children to cross the road, had been chopped down and would be permanently replaced.

But he said he was disappointed vandals had sprayed graffiti on the Lucerne Avenue youth shelter just days after it was cleared up.

Police have promised the audits will be carried out at least every three months.