A crusading priest disgusted by racist graffiti has taken the law into his own hands - and is not concerned if his actions land him in prison.

Mindless vandals daubed the sick slogan - too offensive to be printed in a family newspaper - on the wall of Eddie's Superstore in Central Avenue, Orford, months ago.

It was just another race-motivated attack for owner Ken Patel and his son Danny, who say they informed police about the incident last year without a response.

But when it appeared nothing was being done, Father Tony Slingo stepped in with his own spray-can solution, obliterating the outrage with white paint.

Father Slingo, of St Benedict's RC Church, said: "I am not doing this as a priest, just as a concerned member of the public. I will go to prison for this - I'm not bothered.

"People in the area are not doing anything in case the police prosecute them. They are either passive or scared to do something to make the area decent.

"With all this talk about the Stephen Lawrence case, who says there is no racism in Warrington?"

Old Orford Residents' Association committee member Marilyn Moriarty agrees. She said: "It's disgusting - the graffiti has been there for ages.

"We are trying to clear the area up and make something of it - this is a disgrace."

The association has offered to provide paints so a colourful mural can brighten up the wall instead, if the shop's landlords agree, because there are fears the culprits will return after dark.

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