The actions of “utter idiots” have been slammed after a cancer charity’s street furniture was stolen from an Angus town centre.
The brightly-painted bike, which was decorated with flowers, highlighted Arbroath Relay for Life which raises money to fund cancer research.
However, locals reacted with anger after the bike was taken from outside the steeple in Arbroath’s Kirk Square.
It was part of the Arbroath in Bloom project, which seeks to make the town more appealing to locals and visitors.
Chairman of Arbroath Relay for Life, Ian Angus slammed those responsible.
He said: “I would condemn the mindless vandals who did this.
“Arbroath in Bloom do a great job in brightening up the town, but this bike also highlighted the important work of Relay for Life.
“It seems to me that those responsible for this either don’t know, or don’t care, about the hurt their actions cause to people who have been affected by cancer.
“The bike was secured, so it has taken some effort to remove, and frankly whoever did this should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”
This is the second time that the bike has been taken.
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It was previously stolen over the winter, but turned up again around six weeks ago.
Volunteers had planted fresh flowers in the bike and returned it to the town centre – only for it to be taken again.
Relay for Life is an annual event. In November, the Arbroath Relay for Life team, supported by volunteers, local businesses and organisations, joined the elite band who have raised over £1 million to help fund research into curing cancer.
The leader of Angus Council, Councillor David Fairweather slammed the culprits.
He said: “Cancer is a truly terrible disease that touches the lives of so many of us.
“These bikes do a lot to brighten up the area, and that is down to community spirited volunteers.
“But this bike was particularly special because it also highlighted that work is constantly being done to beat cancer, and that can be a real comfort to people.
“Taking this bike is the action of utter idiots, and I would appeal for anyone with any information to come forward.
“Perhaps those responsible thought it was simply a prank, and did not realise the significance of the bike, and if that is the case, I would invite them to do the right thing and return it.”
