Loyalist Action Against Drugs?

The slogan LAAD - apparently a reference to Loyalist Action Against Drugs - has appeared at the bridge at the Three Mile House and on a wooden fence in the heart of the village.

Sources have indicated that there is no evidence to suggest the emergence of a loyalist vigilante style group akin to RAAD - which has carried out more than 20 shootings and bomb attacks in the North West over the last year - in Derry.

Andrew Russell of the Drumahoe Community Association agrees the graffiti is the work of young people rather than evidence of a new vigilante style grouping.

"It appears to be young people just jumping on the bandwagon," he said.

"There is not a major problem with drugs in Drumahoe. If anyone knows otherwise then the way to do deal with it is to notify police, not to deface the village," he said.

Mr Russell says the community association would approach Derry City Council to remove the slogans.

He said no one in the local community wants to see Drumahoe defaced in this way.