A DUNSTER grandmother is refuing to walk through the subway under the busy A39 with her young granddaughter because of "disgusting" graffiti.

The 62-year-old woman, who does not wish to be named, told the County Gazette she is fed up with having to take alternate routes - sometimes across the busy road - up to the village in a bid to protect her granddaughter.

She said: "It really is disgusting.

"It has been there for ages.

"Why is nothing being done about it?"

She said that although her granddaughter was on-ly young, she knew what the words meant and it should not be tolerated.

Sgt Grant Dennis from Minehead police station said: "Graffiti is an offence and the area in the subway is being monitored.

"There have not been any additions to the area in the last few months but we are active in watching the situation."

It is claimed that the graffiti is caused by a number of youngsters living in the village who write and draw on the walls as "there is nothing else for them to do".

But Sgt Dennis says this is no ex-cuse as only a short distance away in Minehead there is a beach, open spaces and leisure centres.

He said: "Much of the anti-social behaviour does happen in the school holidays but we have some good fa-cilities on our doorstep with Mine-head close by and youth clubs in Carhampton.

He said the police have been working closely with West Somerset District Council and have a Police Community Support Off-icers patrolling the area.

He said: "We hope that combined with our new beat officer in Dunster and a greater police presence with PCSOs will be beneficial to the village."

Anyone witnessing acts of graffiti should call police straight away on the from and confidential Crime-stoppers number 0800 555 111.