Vandals leave trail of destruction across Pentland Hills

Police have launched an investigation after vandals left a trail of "devastating" destruction across the Pentland Hills on the edge of Edinburgh at the weekend.

Three masked people were caught on CCTV moments before they apparently ripped security cameras from a cafe at one of the fisheries, which they also broke into.

A children's charity centre was also broken into, vandalised and an eco-polyhouse set on fire.

The incidents happened at Threipmuir reservoir and Loganlea reservoir on Saturday between 15:00 and 18:00.

Kenny Waugh, at Loganlea Fishery, told BBC Scotland News they were broken into at about 15:00 on Saturday.

"They got rid of the security cameras and threw them into the reservoir and then broke in through the kitchen window.

"They took some stock and damaged the cameras inside as well."

He said they got some pictures and had given them to the police.

He said they had never been broken into in the more than 30 years that they had been there. A cafe was opened at the property two years ago.

"There was three of them and they were all dressed in black with hoods and two were wearing masks.

"We are worried about it as we had trouble in the summer with the electric bikes, it's the same kind of thing they are all in black and all have balaclavas."

He said he was "worried" and upset" by the incident.

Sara Beaureard, manager and founder of Youth Vision, said her charity for disadvantaged children in the heart of the Pentland Hills, was also targeted.

"We are devastated," she said.

Beaureard set up the charity 15 years ago after restoring 18th Century ruins in the heart of the Pentland Hills.

Every year about 60 young people, who struggle with formal education and special needs, use the site to learn life skills.

"It's a lovely sanctuary for them working with nature and using the outdoors," she said.

"So to see the destruction has been devastating.

"They broke in through the doors and trashed inside the house, breaking everything.

"They made a mess and then set fire to the eco-polyhouse. It was built by our young people. It had walls and a polycarbonate roof to collect water for the plants in the garden.

"We had a really old grapevine in there and grew sweetcorn in there and that has all been destroyed.

"The roof must have leapt into flames and all the plastic has dripped down."

She said they had suffered about £5,000 worth of damage.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said they were called at 15:30 on Saturday to a break-in at premises near Loganlea reservoir.

Then at about 17:00 on Saturday police said they were called to a fire in Mansfield Road in the Pentland Hills.

"The fire was extinguished and there were no injuries," the spokeswoman said.

"It's being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 17:00 on Saturday to reports of a fire at Threipmuir reservoir in Edinburgh.

"There were no casualties and crews left the scene at 18:45 after ensuring the area was made safe."