Police hope images of "tags" scrawled on the wall of a block of flats during a break-in will help them catch the culprits.

The graffiti was daubed along corridor walls, windows and doors at the Chapel Court residential home, in Leicester Road, Narborough, during a wrecking spree which saw plant pots shattered, a toilet damaged and a fire extinguisher set off.

Words written in black and silver marker pen around the building include "Many" and "Goigo" – both of which are new tags in the area, according to police.

Residents of the home, which provides sheltered accommodation for the elderly, were reported to have been left "understandably distressed" by the break-in.

The incident happened at around 8pm on Monday, July 27, though police only released the images yesterday.

Pc Ady Lloyd from Blaby police station, who is investigating the break-in and vandalism, said: "Tags are unique. They are almost like a signature.

"These particular tags have turned up elsewhere since the incident in Narborough, including on the council offices.

"However, the tags are new to us and not ones we have seen before."

The break-in was discovered when an elderly woman living at the 13-bed home reported hearing noises in the corridor outside her room.

She came across the vandalism which included a line scrawled from one end of the corridor to the other and soil from broken plant pots scattered across the carpet.

It is believed the culprits got in through a window in the corridor.

Lyndsey Hunt, spokeswoman for Three Oaks Homes, which runs the home, confirmed that the vandals had forced open a window at the side of the building, snapping the lock in the process.

She said: "Thankfully none of our tenants came into contact with the offenders or suffered damage to any personal belongings.

"However, the incident has understandably distressed residents and we are working with police to trace and prosecute those responsible."

She said workmen had now cleared up the area affected and that the graffiti was due to be removed today.

Pc Lloyd said: "Aside from the damage to the property, the fear of crime that this can generate, even though the damage was in communal areas, is high.

"The resident who found the damage was quite distressed and we are hoping that anyone who has knowledge of the incident will call us.

"If you were in the Leicester Road area of Narborough last Monday evening and can remember seeing someone acting suspiciously then give us a call."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Lloyd on 0116 222 2222, or, alternatively, to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.