Newly painted graffiti covering a large section of wall in Ham has set residents against each other with questions over whether it should be seen as art or vandalism.

Strong feelings have been stirred by the spray can art work on a wall alongside the Ham General Store near The Bench alleyway.

The row blew up on the Nextdoor neighbourhood app over the weekend with one contributor complaining: "A couple of hoodie thugs painted this cr*p on the walls of the bench this afternoon. Ham Street doesn't need this."

Subsequently, a number of residents came to the defence of those responsible, arguing it was a genuinely impressive and skilled piece of work that improved an otherwise blank white wall.

Critics have been attacked online while there were also suggestions that the owner of the property involved had commissioned those involved to carry out the graffiti.

However, Nub News has confirmed with the Council that the graffiti work was created without permission and they intend to send in a specialist cleaning crew to have it removed.

It is understood the decision will have been taken by council officers, based on the laws around street graffiti, rather than at the request of residents or councillors.

A Council spokesman said: "The Council received a report for the graffiti over the weekend.

"Our Highway Operations and Street Scene team have been advised that the proprietor of the premises had not commissioned nor given permission for the piece to be painted. The Council has advised its contractor to remove the graffiti."

The online row involved strong opinions on both sides of the debate. Supporters of the graffiti described it as 'fun' and said it 'improves the aesthetic environment'.

One person joked: "Compared to some of the rubbish you see in art galleries it's brilliant, well done hoodie thugs."

However, others described it as 'criminal' and 'screaming visual noise', while one complained: "This "art" feels to me like someone shouting gibberish in my ear."