VANDALS who scrawled obscene graffiti on a bench in memory of a former mayor of Portland have been branded ‘mindless idiots’.

Family and friends of the late Ian Phelps were disgusted to see the ‘filth’ written on the stone bench in Castle Road.

Mr Phelps, who was town mayor from 2002 to 2003, died in May 2008 after losing a four-year battle with bowel cancer.

The bench in his memory was dedicated in a ceremony in April, attended by his friends, relatives and fellow councillors.

Now less than three months on, swear words written in black marker pen have been daubed across the memorial.

Mr Phelps’ brother Richard said: “I feel gutted – that’s the kind of society we are now living in. I think it’s appalling and the people going around doing these things are the lowest of the low.

“I just think it was a couple of kids. How would they like to see it done to someone in their family?”

Richard Phelps is now appealing to the culprits to look to their conscience and own up. “Somebody out there must know who it was,” he said.

“If they are big enough to do it then they should be big enough to put their hands up and come forward to volunteer to clean it off or pay to clean it off.”

Mr Phelps’ friend and Portland town councillor Sandy West was ‘heartbroken’ when she saw the graffiti. She said: “I am disgusted at the mindless idiots who have scrawled filth over the memorial bench.

“This beautiful bench is for the benefit of the island and is used by so many people.

“I just don't understand why someone should do such a disrespectful thing.

“So to the people responsible for this I want to say you should be ashamed of yourselves, it shows a total disregard to the feelings of his family and the people of this island.”

Portland town councillor Jenny Collinge wasn’t surprised to see the graffiti. She said: “I was quite horrified at it but not that surprised.

“These idiots don’t seem to have any sense of pride or sense of community.”

Coun West has asked Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s rapid response team to clean off the obscenities.

She said: “They said they would see what they could do about it. If they don’t do it I will go down there with a scrubbing brush and do it myself.”

A borough council spokesman said: “Requests for graffiti removal around the borough are subject to assessment. Many types of stone can be further damaged by the use of harsh chemicals.”