Two students came to the rescue after after vandals sprayed graffiti on Leamington's Queen Victoria statue

Two students have come to the rescue after vandals sprayed graffiti on the statue of Queen Victoria in Leamington town centre.

There was a huge uproar after we reported the news last month and police have since arrested a 19-year-old man from Leamington on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

But teenagers Ethan Liddell, 19, of Kenilworth and George Mander, 18, of Leamington, said they could not just walk on by without doing something to help.

After seeing the graffiti on Friday October 9, Ethan went to the Co-operative store over the road in the Parade and bought cleaning equipment to help remove the graffiti, which also appeared on a police van and buildings in town.

He then got the help of his friend, George - a college student at Warwickshire College - to help him clean up the mess.

Ethan, a university student at the University of Essex, said: "I was in town with a friend in the afternoon and walked past the statue. I noticed that the front had not only got mud smeared on it, but the side had graffiti on it."

"Later that day, I decided to ask my friend George Mander if he wanted to clean it with me.

"I asked him specifically because we share respect and care for the statue and we’re both saddened to see it ruined. So he was happy to do it with me.

"We went to the Co-operative to get soap and sponges for the removal of the mud and stronger chemicals for the graffiti (but made sure not to have anything too strong).

"We also brought with us a bucket, bottles of water and gloves so we had everything we needed.

"Once we got there we just started to go to work and started on the mud, then onto the graffiti.

"We were there for a few hours and had lots of members of the public come over to thank us and also take photos of us."

The vandalism happened on Tuesday September 29 and police are still keen to speak to anyone who can help.

A 19-year-old man from Leamington has been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage

He was also arrested on suspicion of possession of class B drugs after cannabis was seized by officers.

The man has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Warwickshire Police via their website – www.warwickshire.police.uk – or by calling 101 quoting 23/41827/20.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.