VANDALS WHO STRUCK at ongoing work on a landmark Moray hotel have sparked an appeal for information from local police.
The Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen has lain derelict for almost five years – but was snapped up at a knock-down £250,000 by local businessman Charlie Milne, who is part-owner of the Banff Spring Hotel.
Work has been ongoing since in bringing the A-listed building up to the standard that will eventually see it being reopened as a first class hotel – but when joiners arrived on the site last week it was discovered that vandals had struck.
Police have said that while it is believed the vandals broke in at some point between 2pm on Tuesday, January 26 and 9.15am on Thursday, January 28, it was not until yesterday that they were informed of the damage caused, which is estimated at a mid-three figure sum.
Now PC Alison Rennie from the Buckie Community Policing team has appealed for information from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the building.
She said: “We are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the incident or who has information to contact us to assist us with our enquiry.”
Meanwhile vandals struck again in Cullen this week when staff at the local golf club discovered their premises had been raided with damage worth hundreds of pounds the result.
The clubhouse alarm had gone off at around 2am on Monday morning and later it was found that a window had been smashed and extensive internal damage done in what was believed to have been a search for cash – although none is kept in the club overnight.
A police spokesman appealed for information over the incident, saying: “It appears individuals broke into the golf club and caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage – but it does not appear like anything has been stolen.”
Anyone who may be able to assist in either incident is being urged to contact local police by contacting 101.