A BOTLEY mural could be painted over if graffiti cannot be removed, road chiefs warned.

And the mural, under the A34 at Montagu Road, might not be dealt with until the end of the year, the Highways Agency said.

Although the clean-up is not a priority, a spokesman said they would attempt to save it but the parish council raised concerns that a delay could lead to more vandalism.

The mural was created in 1989 by Didcot artist Michael Iddon and depicts scenes from North Hinksey and Oxford along the underpass.

But it was vandalised in June with tags such as “MAS class of 2012”.

Highways Agency spokesman James Wright said: “We don’t have a precise date yet. The expectation is we will be out there to deal with it before the end of the year.”

Asked if the mural could be painted over he said: “It is possible but it is too early to say.

“We will make an assessment when we get there.

“If we do decide to paint over it, it wouldn’t be a cost decision, it will be if the mural is damaged beyond repair.”

The agency’s crew – which carries out repairs along the trunk road all year – will try their best to remove the graffiti, he said.

Mr Wright said “times are tight” and work had to be prioritised.

He added: “We are saddened it has happened but it is not what we would call essential maintenance.

“It is not essential to the safety of people travelling on the road network. We have to prioritise these things.”

The mural was commissioned by North Hinksey Parish Council but is now the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

Parish council chairman Andrew Pritchard said: “Ultimately it is going to be up to them to decide what they are going to do. The problem with graffiti is the longer you leave it people think it is okay to graffiti whereas if you remove them pronto people think ‘it is not worth it, I’ll put my tag up there and it’s gone again’.”

The mural was also damaged in 2010 with the infamous Soak tag which appeared around the county.