SWINDON'S phantom graffiti cleaner has moved his campaign from his home area to the town centre.

Terry Hayward, who at first wanted to remain anonymous for his anti-graffiti actions, spent time yesterday afternoon cleaning graffiti from window, pillars and telephone boxes in The Parade area outside Debenhams.

He moved his mission from the Parks, Stratton and Walcot into the centre of town after hearing comments that people found the graffiti tags to be intimidating and off putting.

"The graffiti just makes people feel unsafe in the area," the pensioner said.

"My wife Kit says it's very intimidating to go into the town centre and tries not to go in as much as possible. Even some men I know have said the same to me."

Mr Hayward first hit the Adver's headlines in March when the paper reported on a phantom cleaner who was clearing dozens of marks in Walcot and Parks.

Yesterday Burnham Road resident Mr Hayward, sporting a blue boiler suit and fluorescent yellow waistcoat, said: "If you take off the graffiti it's another step towards getting rid of the unsightly and idiotic mess making it a friendlier world."

Despite councils spending thousands of pounds on expensive kits and chemicals to clean graffiti, Mr Hayward's system is simpler and cheaper.

He uses a bucket of water, household detergent spray, scourers and an aerosol graffiti cleaner, and although this means he cannot tackle brickwork he is proud of the work he does.

In May Mr Hayward was named Environment Champion in the Community Champions Awards run by the Adver and Swindon Council.