SOMETIMES a graffiti removal job is too big for even Kirklees Council to deal with.
That's when they call in an expert.
Sidney MacKay worked in the chemical industry for more than 30 years before setting up his own business 14 years ago.
Now, the 67-year-old is the man councils and businesses call when they have a job that needs special attention.
His Shepley-based company, Graffiti Busters, specialises in getting rid of scrawls on buildings and walls that need extra care.
He also cleans up underpasses and bridges and covers them with paint that makes future graffiti easy to remove.
Mr MacKay said: "I work with Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield councils and do a lot of work on the super-trams in Manchester.
"I did the underpass on Trinity Street in Huddersfield town centre. There, we used a solution on the walls which has made removing any graffiti really easy.
"Before, workers would spend hours scrubbing the walls. Now I am told they spend about half an hour a week."
And even though many people who are Mr MacKay's age are taking things a lot easier he has no plans to stop cleaning up the neighbourhood just yet.
"I enjoy the work and it certainly keeps me busy," said the father-of-two.
"Some graffiti can be removed reasonably easily. The council's own staff can sort out 95% of the work themselves and they do a great job.
"But sometimes, if it is on an old building or difficult surface, I have to come along and help them out," said Mr MacKay.
