Police are investigating an elderly man accused of vandalizing the newly painted Pride crosswalk in New Westminster.

Several witnesses reported seeing a man pour white paint on the rainbow crossing at Church Street and Columbia Street on Monday.

Police responded and found a 91-year-old man nearby. The senior was taken to hospital for an evaluation, but could potentially face mischief charges.

City crews have since washed away the white paint, and police say no permanent damage was done. 

The crosswalk, which celebrates the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer community, had been unveiled just hours earlier as part of Pride Week festivities in New Westminster.

The first rainbow Pride crosswalk was painted in Vancouver's West End in 2013 and Victoria installed three permanent rainbow crosswalks earlier this year, while Prince Rupert has approved the concept and an online crowdsourcing campaign has been launched to help fund it.

With files from The Canadian Press