A COMMUNITY-SPIRITED South Side man has taken his local area’s graffiti problem into his own hands.

Billy Cullen, a self-employed painter and decorator, took the initiative to paint over “unsightly” graffiti on a wall between Clarkston Road and the railway bridge at Cathcart Station.

Glasgow Times: This graffiti was annoying Billy Cullen every day before he decided to tackle it himself This graffiti was annoying Billy Cullen every day before he decided to tackle it himself

The 61-year-old said: “Every time I pass by that bridge, my unit is right next door to it, and it’s been spray-painted a good couple of months now.”

He found himself with some time on his hands on Tuesday afternoon and took to covering up the offending tags – by prolific local graffiti artists – with a fresh lick of white paint.

Glasgow Times: He painted over the tags and planted sunflowers along the wall He painted over the tags and planted sunflowers along the wall

“Some people liked the graffiti, others didn’t. I was thinking about people saying they liked it colourful, so I planted some sunflower seeds along the wall,” said Billy.

“It’s just giving something back to the community and I know how difficult it is for the council to come out.

Glasgow Times: The Cathcart man runs his own painting and decorating firm The Cathcart man runs his own painting and decorating firm

“I just thought, if I don’t do something then who is? Luckily, I have the skills and equipment to do something about it.”

You can report graffiti to Glasgow City Council online. If the vandalism is deemed to be offensive, it should be removed within 48 hours.

A council spokeswoman said: “Graffiti is unsightly and we urge members of the public to report any such graffiti to us via the MyGlasgow app.”