A local councillor has hit out at vandals who defaced a war memorial in a Moray town.
The memorial alongside Station Park in Lossiemouth was discovered as having been vandalised with spray paint earlier this week.
Built into the rock face on Pitgaveny Street the Lossiemouth memorial is a unique tribute to those from the town who fought and died for their country.
In recent years great efforts have been made to restore the monument which has taken on a more significant role in this year of commemoration marking the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.
After discovering that vandals had struck this week local councillor John Cowe said: “In the commemorative year of World War I I find it hard to comprehend this deliberate act of vandalism – the people named on that plaque fought and dies for their country.
“Ken Kennedy from the Council’s Land and Parks has had a look at the damage today and he hopes to have it cleaned up as soon as possible.
“The brass plaque was waxed earlier this year so it is hoped that the paint will be easier to remove as a result – once that has been done it will be re-waxed.”
A spokesman for Lossiemouth Community Council added: “We can only despair over why anyone would commit such an act.
“We constantly learn of vandalism in our town but this has to be the most wicked and thoughtless act – we would hope that anyone who might have any information on who was responsible for this would contact the police on the non-emergency telephone line 101.”