Graffiti vandals have gouged "tags" into at least 15 shop windows within three days.

Police are now trying to trace the people responsible for hundreds of pounds of damage in Birstall, including one who has been etching the mark "Rain" into property.

Several shops in Sibson Road have had their windows scratched.

Shops in Wanlip Avenue and Loughborough Road have also been tagged.

The town has been identified as a graffiti troublespot by Charnwood Borough Council, which has spent thousands of pounds repairing damage to public property.

Harry Allen, of Allen's Family Baker, in Sibson Road, said: "Quite a few shops along Sibson Road have been attacked.

"At the moment, we're not sure if it's possible to remove the scratches. We don't want to replace the glass because it could happen again.

"What we could do with is some surveillance cameras.

"It's a long-term problem and it's not just scratching on the windows – we had ours smashed a couple of years ago.

"We're getting no feedback from anyone about what's going to be done."

Tim Elson, who owns Carpets of Choice, is in the process of opening a store in Sibson Road. It was attacked by vandals on Tuesday.

He said: "I'd just finished painting the front and then I showed up on Tuesday and someone had scribbled names in blue marker pen over the pillars.

"Luckily, I still had the paint to cover it, but it's very annoying.

"You hear a lot about vandalism in Birstall."

Stuart Jones, Charnwood borough councillor for the town, said he wanted more help from the police.

He said: "I'm very unhappy about what's happening.

"People say there are youths from outside the area but most of them are local.

"The parish council spent £15,000 repairing vandalism last year and the pavilion was damaged just before Christmas. I've been asking for more police on the streets. We could do with another permanent bobby."

In the nine months from April last year, Charnwood Borough Council spent £6,317 cleaning up graffiti on its property in Birstall.

Of all the cash spent outside Loughborough on vandalism in that period, 53% was in Birstall.

There have also been recent attacks on cars and a bus.

Sergeant Ian Stone, of Syston police, said: "We have officers patrolling the area, have informed Neighbourhood Watch and have spoken to the victims, but we are still looking for more information."

Anyone who knows the identity of "Rain" can contact Sgt Stone on 0116 222 2222.