VANDALS running riot in Tillicoultry have been condemned by the area's community council after targeting three buildings in recent weeks.

Over the weekend (April 11-12), the front window of the Village Inn takeaway on High Street was left badly cracked.

And, around a week before that, graffiti was left on the outside one of the town's pubs and also the local primary school.

The incidents were strongly criticised by Damian Sherwood-Johnson, chair of Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton and Devonside Community Council.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, he told the Advertiser: "There's certainly been three cases: the school and [pub] I think happened at the same time – I think it was graffiti that was spray-painted on.

"Obviously, we're very disappointed that people would take advantage of lockdown to engage in behaviour like this.

"I think there are two things: the first one is it's diverting essential police resources away from other things they could be dealing with.

"Secondly, businesses have enough to worry about at this time."

He noted that there had been "an outpouring of disappointment" when details of the incidents were shared on the community council's Facebook page.

Indeed, commenting on the post, Helen Galloway said: "Don't know what Tillicoultry is coming to lots of mindless hooligans."

And Patricia Crane (who stays in nearby Dollar) wrote: "Disgusting doing this to anyone, as if things are not hard enough for us all at this time.

"Hope whoever is responsible is caught [and] made [to apologise and] pay for damages."

On a more positive not, Damian mentioned that many people had come forward to offer their support to remove the graffiti.

And looking to the future, he said: "We just hope it won't be repeated."