Community rallies after derby day mural vandalism

A city community has rallied to cover up graffiti scrawled on a colourful mural they believe was drawn by rival football fans during a tense derby day.

Ipswich Town Football Club's initials were drawn on hoardings outside a historic building on one of Norwich's oldest streets last weekend as thousands of supporters visited to watch the game at nearby Carrow Road.

Norwich lost 2-0 to Ipswich and, after the match, Canaries supporters living in King Street were further disappointed after spotting the graffiti.

Stephanie Northen, who helped cover it up, said she hoped whoever was responsible would "regret" defacing the mural, which was created by residents last summer.

She said: "I'm sure there were many thousands of Ipswich fans at the match and only probably one of them did the graffiti.

"I hope that they maybe regret it… it was something they maybe did in the heat of the moment and hopefully they won't do it again."

Northen, who is part of the Wild King Street group, which aims to boost the area through green community projects, says it took about two hours to cover the graffiti.

It was spotted on hoardings on a derelict 16th Century building set to be converted into flats, which locals had painted.

The hoardings which cover the ground floor of the Grade II listed building were previously regularly covered in graffiti but since the mural was drawn last August, incidents have been very rare, Northen said.

"It has been a very positive thing and generally it has reduced graffiti with the occasional exception," she added.

"The main message of the mural is about celebrating nature and community, that is what we try to do."

The group have more things planned for the local community, including installing new planters and there may be more murals created in the future.

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.