COUNCIL taxpayers could pay the clean-up bill for illegal pro-hunting slogans painted on roads and roundabouts in York and North Yorkshire.

Since May 16, hunting activists have daubed paint in nine different places around York, Selby and Ryedale. On one night, six appeared in different parts of the county. The latest was painted as the rest of the country was celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Police have confirmed that the slogans break the law and could be dangerous to road users and that they are investigating.

A City of York Council spokesman said that its staff were yet to start cleaning up the ones in its area as they had only just become aware of them. Roads such as the A64 are the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

Normally, the council tries to get the owner of a defaced property to pay for cleaning it, but the roads are public property. If vandals are convicted of damaging council property, it routinely applies to the courts to order the perpetrators to pay the cleaning cost.

The latest slogans are believed to be the work of militant hunt activists, possibly the Real Countryside Alliance (RCA). The RCA has no connections with the Countryside Alliance, which has condemned its actions and its choice of name.

Police say the slogans are criminal damage, as they cost money to clean away. They could also endanger road users as motorists could be distracted from the road to try and read them.

Both offences can be punished by a jail term.