A homeless veteran has been left devastated after his tent was allegedly set on fire in a Scots park.
John, from Glasgow, had been staying in the park near Sandyford Henderson memorial church for five months. During this time, he gave the space a makeover by adding new planters, plant pots, fairy lights and toys for children to play with.
However, he has now been forced to leave the park, on Kelvinhaugh Street, after his tent was allegedly destroyed in the deliberate blaze along with his books, clothes and the small amount of cash he had.
Local resident Natalie was walking through the park on Sunday, June 18 when she noticed a sign, which read: "Burning a homeless guys tent down. Ahh, yir a big hard man eh. Shame on you. Thing is hard man, you are two forced decisions from homelessness yourself."
Speaking to Glasgow Live, the 40-year-old said: "To burn his tent down like that is just disgusting. I am absolutely disgusted and shocked."
She continued: "He was at Byres Road sitting on the street for money. When he came back his tent was burnt, luckily he wasn’t in it.
"I got talking to John and he said he will never sleep in a tent again because he is too scared. It would have been quite a protective place for him so it was so sad."
Natalie added that John will now need to find somewhere else to sleep - and fears what may happen to him when winter arrives.
She said: "It made him feel unsafe and he will never have a tent again. That protection, security and comfort has been taken away from him.
"I’m thinking about what’s going to happen when the weather turns and he won’t even have the protection of a tent because he is scared. He hardly has anything and you have taken everything from him now.
Whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves. He was trying to make his own surroundings look nicer and homely, it’s been taken away from him."
Sandyford Henderson memorial church confirmed John had been staying in the park for several weeks.
A spokesperson said: "He had been around the park tidying up the areas which was seemingly appreciated by all passers by, however, one day everything was smashed up and the area in disarray.
"John returned and began to tidy up then something else happened and he disappeared."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
