Vandals gave the salt pans in Buġibba a new look last night by smearing paint all over.

These photos, sent in by a reader, show that the vandal wanted to express his or her love for 'Serena', defacing a site portraying engineering skills of times gone by in the process.

The rock face was also smeared with flourescent yellow spray.

St Paul's Bay mayor Graziella Galea said this was not the only vandalism act in the locality in the past days.

Lamps at the Blue Flag Buġibba perched beach were broken as were tiles in the same area.

She condemned the vandalism and said that repairs would be carried out as soon as possible. She also appealed for greater police presence.

"It is a shame that public funds have to be used for this aim rather than for other projects and works in the locality," she said.

In a statement the Infrastructure Ministry condemned the vandalism. It said the clean-up work will cost some €300. Works start tomorrow.