A DAD who had his van emblazoned with graffiti art has gone a step further by having his children's bedrooms painted with spray-paint designs.

Pete Fry came up with the idea as part of his campaign to get people to change their perceptions and see graffiti as artistic rather than an eyesore.

The 35-year-old electrical contractor from Abbey Meads had his Volkswagen van covered in graffiti a year ago and was so impressed with the end result he got local artists to paint his caravan too.

"Ever since I was young I've been a VW enthusiast and have entered camper vans and Beetles into competitions, so when I wanted to get my van sprayed, I got in touch with the youth service who introduced me to the three guys," Pete said.

"They had a look at the van and after working on it quite a while, produced this brilliant design. It was great."

Pete's six-year-old daughter Tia was so taken with the colourful graffiti that she wanted to get her room painted as well.

Her brother Tommy, nine, had his room painted as a surprise.

"The kids absolutely love it," said Pete. "Tia's room is more scenic which is what she wanted and has her name on the wall, and Tommy has his name on his wall too, with a picture of a fist coming through the wall.

"The camper van and now the caravan have got such great reactions from everyone whenever I go out with it.

"People have come up and wanted to get in touch with the guys who painted the vans so that they can get their cars done too. It's been great."

Pete said he wanted to promote graffiti art rather than unsightly tagging.

"To me, it is art, and I hope more people will change their perceptions of the people who do graffiti," he said.

"It is a skill, and I guess if there were more places in towns, dedicated walls where they could display their work, then I don't think there would be such major problems like we have now.

"With tagging, it lowers the tone of the area and individuals or the council have to pay to get it removed, which is certainly not fair.

"Those interested in creating graffiti should follow the example of the artists.

"That way they wouldn't be spoiling the reputation of known and respected graffiti artists and also not getting themselves into trouble."