Thieves have been slammed for causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to a 200-year-old Angus attraction.
The Signal Tower Museum in Arbroath was hit by criminals who stripped a large amount of lead from the building.
The theft was only discovered by staff when they came in to work and found gaps left in the roof had caused significant water damage to the interior.
Arbroath East and Lunan Councillor Donald Morrison said the building is “iconic” to the town and a vital piece of the tourist economy.
“For someone to remove lead from the roof and guttering just beggars belief,” he said.
“Their criminal act has caused damage to the interior of the museum, with water penetrating from the large rainfall over the last couple of days.
“The costs of repairs will have to be met from already tight budgets.”
Mr Morrison believes someone using the A92 could have seen something suspicious over the weekend, and asked the community to discuss anything seen with the police.
The Signal Tower, beside Beacon Green, was built as the shore base for the Bell Rock lighthouse in 1813 to house the lighthouse keepers’ families, and keepers themselves when they were on shore leave.
Its name derives from its other role as a signalling station, passing messages between the lighthouse and the mainland.
The building became a museum celebrating local history in the 1970s, and benefited from a £425,000 restoration in 2011 ahead of the Bell Rock’s bicentenary.
Angus Council confirmed the theft and damage but have not yet arrived at a total bill for repairs.
A spokesman said: “Some time over the course of the weekend lead was stolen from the roof and lead gutters, valleys and upstands were also taken, which resulted in damage to the slate roof itself.
“As a consequence, water penetrated into rooms below, which will now have to be dried out and then repainted.
“The full cost of repairs has not been established at this time, but it is fair to say that it is work that would not have been needed but for the criminal actions of others.”
Tayside Division of Police Scotland confirmed they are carrying out inquiries over the lead theft and urged members of the public to call the non-emergency number 101 with any information.
Photo by Angus Pictures