Fury at police as artist is paid £2,000 to paint fluffy clouds in a bid to 'calm' yobs

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Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council signed up artist Stig Evans to paint the blue skies on the windows of a derelict pub which had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour and was used a crackhouse.

Town hall officials who footed the £2,000 bill claim the artwork in Brighton cheers up vandals by making them think of sunny days instead of going on a wrecking spree.

But many locals thought the pictures were a joke - and slammed officers for "trendy policing" of a site just 200 yards from the local police station.

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Local resident , Ruby, admires the art on a disused pub in Brighton that has had its windows painted with fluffy clouds in an attempt to prevent grafitti and vandalism

Sussex Police's Insp Laurence Taylor said: "It must have a calming effect.

"Clearly those intent on wanton vandalism have thought twice about lobbing stones or spraying aerosol paint.

"This is improving the quality of life for people in the area and we are most impressed.

"We will be watching the situation closely to see what we can learn for future campaigns against vandalism."

Artist Stig, 43, added: "Residents said they wanted something uplifting and liberating. People looking at it usually have a double-take."

But trader Ian Hughes, 41, said: "The clouds look nice enough but the police can't be serious when they say the pictures will stop crime.

"The little herberts who cause all the grief around here won't think twice about wrecking them.

"This is just trendy policing, a load of nonsense about trying to 'understand' these vandals. I don't want to understand them, I just want a cop to stop them smashing things up."

Local mum-of-two Leanne Hayton, 39, added: "This is really beyond belief.

"Now I'm waiting for the police to come round with a giant set of speakers to pump out whale noises to deter criminals. It really wouldn't surprise me."