A CLEAN-UP operation is being mounted to remove racist graffiti which was sprayed onto roads in Selkirk.

Vandals left a string of offensive slogans on the main A7 at the northern entrance to the town.

And now police are asking for help to snare the thugs.

The graffiti, which includes several racist terms as well as references to Ebola, was sprayed during Monday night into Tuesday morning.

The same white paint was used to deface walls, paths and stairs around nearby Roberts Avenue.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland told the Border Telegraph: “Police in the Scottish Borders received a report of racially offensive graffiti on Ettrick Terrace which was written sometime between the evening of Monday and the morning of Tuesday.

“Enquiries are currently ongoing and officers are urging anyone with information about this incident, or who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area at the time of the incident, to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.” Bosses at highways agency Amey have been made aware of the incident and they will send staff to remove the offensive wording.

And Scottish Borders Council will undertake a clean up of the nearby walls and stairways.

A spokesperson for SBC said: “There is some graffiti on council-owned property and we will be removing this by the end of the week.

“This is offensive, is an act of vandalism and is simply unacceptable.

“We would encourage anyone who has information that could help catch the person or people responsible for this to contact Police Scotland.”