1:56pm UK, Saturday May 10, 2008

Forestry officials in America are screaming trees-on over cartoon criminals who vandalised an historic building.

SpongeBob SquarePants

The US Forest Service is hunting for the artful dodgers who painted a giant picture of animated character SpongeBob SquarePants on a cabin chimney.

The three-metre tall depiction of the Nickelodeon 'star' now adorns the cabin in the Pike National Forest.

The Colorado site used to be home to the Forest Service's tree nursery until it was abandoned in the 1930s.

Forest Service law enforcement officer Tom Healy said the incident was part of an increase in vandalism in the area.

Officials say whoever painted the cartoon on the chimney brought four colours of paint and that it was a time-consuming venture.

Mr Healy says it will cost several thousand dollars to wipe the absorbent yellow star's image from the site.