Vandals Attack Brentford Canal Mural – and leave a trail of clues.

It was created in order to rid the canal walk of graffiti – but now vandals have hit back and destroyed part of Brentford's magnificent Grand Union mural.
Yet, with misguided pride, they insisted on leaving a trail of clues – CSWO, 'Owse', 'Hunta', 'Pork' and 'The Real B'.
Do these mean anything to you? If so, call the police.
When it was painted nine months ago, the artists from Positive Arts coated the mural with chemicals designed to protect it from harm. But – in what looks like a concerted and prolonged onslaught – vandals have applied thick layers of paint spray to destroy two of the finest panels.
They have obliterated the final scene showing a giant rat. They have also destroyed a depiction of the Thames at Canary Wharf.
It is destructive, not creative. But they imposed the initials CSWO – perhaps to suggest they are followers of the graffiti artist CSW, who has many followers on Facebook. As it's unlikely he flew over from his base in Los Angeles, the culprits are probably a gang of local imitators who can be easily identified.
When the mural first appeared last Autumn, it was a welcome improvement to the canal sheds and hailed as a new mural masterpiece, perhaps Brentford's greatest work of art – at least in size. Yet the talents behind this public painting remained unrecognised – some out of modesty, others because they were young offenders.
Ironically it had been people like those young offenders who had earlier sprayed this historic wall with graffiti, seriously spoiling a listed building. But, over several days, a team of youngsters helped turn it into a wonderful stream of colour: a 200-yard long depiction of life on the Grand Union, from barges and bargees to birds and voles – and the alarming rat.
It's official title was The Brentford Canal Sheds Community Mural Project and it was created jointly by Positive Arts, the Canal and River Trust and Hounslow Youth Offending Service. It was specially treated to resist graffiti, and boaters moored alongside were thrilled to wake up to it every morning. One said at the time: 'It's brilliant. We hope it stays.'
But now there is a sense of dismay as the mural stands seriously damaged– just as the Floating Cinema moors in Brentford Lock (4-6 June) for a weekend of festivities.