Kirkcudbright residents have been left furious after a host of golden daffodils were destroyed in an act of “mindless vandalism”.
The beautiful blooms on Moat Brae have been praised by locals and visitors alike for brightening up the town at the start of spring.
But over the weekend the flowers were flattened in what has been described as a “despicable” act.
Summer Festivities chairman John Blaikie said: “The whole town is angry about it.
“Kirkcudbright doesn’t get a lot of vandalism but every now and then someone does something stupid like this.
“It’s quite disappointing. There have been a lot of comments about how good they look and now someone has done this.
“We think it happened on Friday night. I don’t know what they have been doing, whether they have been rolling in them or whatever, but they have been flattened.
“Some of them aren’t too bad but the ones facing the harbour have been destroyed.
“There is CCTV facing it that is being looked at – we think it’s youths who may have been up to high jinx.”
The vandalism has also been slammed by local MSP Finlay Carson.
He said: “Words honestly fail me at times when you see such mindless vandalism. Why would anyone do such a thing?
“Does the person or possibly people responsible for such a foolish act not realise the pleasure this flower display brings to a great many people?
“What they have done is despicable and I hope that whoever is behind it is caught and held to account for their actions.”
He added: “The daffodils display brings enormous joy to visitors and the local community, many of whom have undergone a great deal of mental anxiety in recent times caused by the pandemic only for it to be ruined by some thoughtless individuals and for what?”
The flowers, and the impressive display of crocuses in Soaperie Gardens, are the responsibility of the council.
A spokesman for the authority said: “We are aware of the damage and it is being treated as antisocial behaviour.
“Our community assets team will work with our youth work and community safety teams to monitor vandalism and antisocial behaviour in and around the affected area over the next few days, into weeks.”
Mr Blaikie is hoping the festivities’ new stage in the square, which has cost around £100,000, doesn’t become the next victim.
He admitted: “We are now worried about the stage as it has PVC sides.
“We will put CCTV up. It’s a shame we are having to think about these things.”
