An Angus cycling group have told of their anger after a bridge built by volunteers for their annual mountain biking festival was vandalised.
The timber construction near the war memorial at Balmashanner Hill in Forfar was set on fire.
It is thought the attack happened on Monday at around 6.30pm.
Angus Cycle Hub said the damage is still being checked. However, it might have to be re-built ahead of September’s Angus Cycling Festival.
Scott Francis, director of Angus Cycle Hub, said: “This bridge was built by volunteers with donated materials last year as part of the cycling festival.
“The structure was due to be used for this year’s festival as well, for the cyclists to go over.
“It was at around 6.30pm on Monday that we got messages from people saying they’d seen damage to the bridge.
“It looked like it had been set on fire, with some of the ramps to help people get on it damaged as well.
“The damage will have to be evaluated before we decide what to do.
“It could be that the birdhe will be repaired, but if the supporting timber structures are damaged it may have to be rebuilt.”
The Angus Cycle Festival will celebrate its third birthday this year, after being described as a “runaway success” in the previous couple of years.
It is organised by Angus Cycle Hub and caters for cyclists of all ages and abilities, including mountain and road cyclists.
Scott added: “We are very busy with preparations for the festival, so having to think about repairing the bridge is the last thing we need.”
For more, see Wednesday’s Angus edition of The Courier.