ARTWORK created by nearly 100 residents has been vandalised just weeks after being unveiled.
The mural was created for the underpass linking Goodwyns Road to the King George V Playing Field in North Holmwood and was installed last month.
But large sections of the vibrant piece have been scratched off the wall, near the entrance to the underpass from the playing field, and there has also been some graffiti left on the damaged area.
"They've scratched it and scraped it and it looks like they've tried to burn it," said Councillor Mick Longhurst (Lib Dem, Holmwoods), who believes the damage was done on the weekend of May 18 to 19.
"It's such a shame. Why have they got to do it?
"It's been so nice walking through there.
"Everyone was very happy with it. A lot of people were involved in making it and obviously this has been done by people who just aren't interested in that.
"It's like people have had a few drinks and gone through there and done it."
The colourful artwork was installed on April 26, using an innovative digital wall wrap system which is the first of its kind in Surrey.
It was officially unveiled to the community on May 4, with a celebratory event and barbecue at the playing field.
Dorking Neighbourhood Sergeant Bert Dean told the Advertiser the vandalism had been reported.
When asked how future similar incidents might be prevented, he said: "We would support any crime prevention measures going in there. However, it would need to be in proportion to the number of incidents that are reported.
"So far, this is the first one that has been reported."
He continued: "Obviously for those involved in the project it is a massive blow given all the effort put into it. A lot of officers use the underpass themselves so it's often being patrolled."
He added: "Someone out there knows what happened but we are waiting for that person to come forward.
"If anyone does have any information they should come to us."
Artist Becci Kenning led workshops with residents earlier this year to create pieces of work that have been incorporated into the final design, using painting, photography and block printing.
One side of the tunnel pictures the landscape at dawn and the other at dusk, portrayed using a subtly different colour palette.
Photographs of the sky over Mole Valley provide the backdrop to the printed wildlife and trees.
The project was organised by Mole Valley District Council and the Links Community Partnership.
The partnership is made up of a number of groups aiming to help develop the communities of Chart Downs, Goodwyns, Rough Rew and North Holmwood.
