GLASGOW City Council has spent more than £2 million removing graffiti in the city in the past five years.

Since 2009 around £2.1m has been spent targeting the damage caused by graffiti vandals, it has emerged.

Official figures show the cost to remove spray painted 'gang tags', offensive words and other types of street vandalism is rising. Around £528,800 was spent in 2008/09 while an estimated £541,359 was spent during 2012/13.

Community Safety Glasgow runs the graffiti removal service and is part of the council's Clean Glasgow campaign.

In 2009/10, it recorded 164,946 metres - and last year they got rid of 113,591m.