A rogues' gallery of residents' pictures has revealed how rampant graffiti taggers are ruining Oxford's buildings.

Oxford City Council turned to the public for help, urging them to take pictures and send them in.

The idea of the scheme, which started earlier this month, was to provide a rapid response and get to grips with vandalism.

The city is affected to such an extent the problem has been described as reaching epidemic proportions.

And last night the man whose job it is to keep the streets clean appealed to the public to 'shop a yob' - and come forward with information on vandals - in the hope the authority could secure its first successful prosecution.

David Walker, the city council's street scenes manager, said: "It's just non-stop and it's a massive problem for us. This is not art, it's criminal damage.

"Graffiti affects people's perception of safety and while they might not be in physical danger, fear plays a great part.

"What we are saying to people is: 'get in touch and we will get it sorted'.

"There is a real need to push enforcement because if we get a successful prosecution it would have a massive deterrent effect.

"I want people to come forward and report graffiti artists."

The reporting scheme is being piloted for a month, but the Town Hall said the authority was encouraged by the dozens of pictures sent in.

Graffiti remover Malcolm Baughan said: "It's just at the limit of our management and is reaching epidemic proportions. We can reduce it but we'll never beat it.

"It's more soul destroying than anything else.

"We'll leave somewhere nice and clean one day and then come back the next and start again.

"In the subway under Marston Ferry Road we can remove 50 metres of graffiti each week."

Figures appear to suggest graffiti in Oxford is on the rise.

In 2005/06, the city council received 744 reports of graffiti, in 2006/07 the figure jumped to 890 and since April 476 reports have been received.

Shirley Browne, 60, of Banbury Road, North Oxford, has used the reporting service.

She said: "I woke up one morning and found a bus shelter near me had been completely covered in multi-coloured graffiti - it really was ugly and an eyesore.

"I sent in a picture and I would urge people to get in touch because this is a great way to use modern technology. I couldn't get my camera out quick enough - and the graffiti was gone within a week."

City councillor Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, added: "This initiative should help residents to report any problems they see and enable them to check on the action taken by the council.

"It is a great way to show residents we are listening and how we are constantly working to keep our streets clean.

"This is just a one-month trial period, but if the scheme proves popular and successful we would look at expanding further to cover more problem issues."

Graffiti and abandoned vehicles can be reported by sending a photograph to photoreporting@oxford.gov.uk