DARTMOOR enthusiasts are ‘furious’ after two recent outbreaks of graffiti vandalism on the moors near Princetown.

Spray paint has been used to deface South Hessary Tor and a prominent rock near the ruins of Eylesbarrow mines over the last few weeks.

Walkers and Dartmoor enthusiasts have expressed their outrage at the vandalism on social media. One person said: ‘Survives millions of years [granite]. Been touched by prehistoric man. And then this idiot comes along.’

Burrator Parish Cllr Keith Scrivener said: ‘These offences happened on the edge of our parish but I am sure I speak for the whole of Dartmoor when I say this sort of urban graffiti is out of place anywhere in the national park. Just don’t do it. It’s not a Banksy, it’s banal and it’s bonkers.’

Simon Lee, ranger team manager for the DNPA, said: ‘This is not a normal occurrence, we have probably had two bouts of graffiti in the last ten years. The weather does help fade the paint quicker but sometimes we have used chemicals and a wire brush to clean it off.

‘Rangers will monitor and work with landowners.’