Vandals were thwarted in their efforts to deface the new mural in the underpass between Fairfield Halls and Wellesley Road.

On Wednesday night, taggers had sprayed graffiti on the newly-painted mural, commissioned by the council and painted by art group Under Croydon.

But little did they know the artwork was covered in an anti-graffiti varnish which meant the vandalism was wiped off with ease come Thursday.