A Port St Mary man has been arrested after what appears to be Manx nationalist graffiti was found in the north and south of the Island.

It happened in the early hours of yesterday morning when country names - each with a year next to them - were sprayed on to stone walls in prominent areas of some of the Island's parishes.

It's understood they include "Qatar 1971" on Andreas Primary School, "Cyprus 1960" on the coast road outside Ramsey, and "Jamaica 1962" on the wall outside Rushen Parish Church.

"Zambia 1964" and "Bahrain 1971" have also been spotted outside Castletown Football Club and on a barn opposite the entrance to Friary Park in Ballabeg respectively.

Lonan Parish Commissioners have contacted Manx Radio to say "Malta 1962" has been sprayed on the Millennium Gardens wall in Baldrine, while a listener has emailed in to say "Egypt 1922" has appeared on the Old Castletown Road, between the bottom of the Ballavale Road and the top of Harbour Road.

The dates refer to when the countries concerned became fully independent from Britain.

Twenty-two-year-old Mark Patrick O'Meara from Port St Mary was arrested after he was found by a police officer near some of the graffiti.

He appeared in court this morning, charged with four counts of criminal damage.

He was bailed until February ninth at a cost of ?1000.

Officers are continuing to investigate the case.

If you have any information about the graffiti, call police headquarters on 631212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.