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Man praised for charity poster graffiti removal

Tom MacDougall
BBC News, Yorkshire
Matthew Langham A billboard for the Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity which reads: "Yours support helps us provide better facilities at the hospital." However, a graffiti tag has been sprayed across the entire sign, including a photo of a little girl using a breathing tube.Matthew Langham
Matthew Langham said he walked past graffiti on an advertisement for the Children's Hospital Charity every day

A man who removed graffiti from a charity's billboard at his tram stop has been praised on social media.

Matthew Langham, 24, from Park Hill, Sheffield, said he was "depressed" by graffiti on an advertisement for the Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity, so he decided to clean it himself.

He posted photos of his work online, with other users thanking him and adding it was a "great thing to do".

"I think people should have more pride in where they live, and me cleaning a bit of graffiti isn't a huge thing, but it feels good," he said.

Mr Langham said he walked past the billboard every day, and he "couldn't help but wonder 'who does that?'".

"I'm not really a fan of graffiti anyway, but to do it over a donation billboard for the Children's Hospital just seems a bit egregious."

Matthew Langham The sign after being cleaned by Mr Langham, which has completely removed the graffiti tag.Matthew Langham
He washed away the graffiti himself, which he said took an hour and £10 of supplies

He said he spent £10 on a spray bottle of graffiti remover one evening, and it took an hour to remove the marks on the billboard.

Commenting on social media, one person wrote: "You're a good lad man. Wish I could be a little more like you."

"A little bit of faith in humanity restored, love you," wrote another.

Despite the praise he received on social media , Mr Langham said he was not "looking for celebration" .

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