Police are to step up patrols after vandals attacked a renowned Angus nature trail.
Ralph Coutts from Arbroath said the St Vigeans Nature Trail has been slowly declining due to vandalism and neglect.
Visitors are attracted to St Vigeans to walk the five-mile trail which joins the old railway trackbed.
However, parts of the nature trail have been left unsightly following fire-raising, graffiti and litter and debris stuck in a burn.
Mr Coutts said: “It saddens me to see the demise of St Vigeans Nature Trail.
“These aren’t big money issues it is just neglect from the council and a lack of policing in the area.”
The St Vigeans Nature Trail sets off from St Vigeans and is lined with trees and shrubs that are home to birds and foxes.
It runs through predominantly open country and skirts by Letham Grange golf course and arrives at the remains of an old station.
The nature trail also includes the remains of an old wartime airfield in the form of hangars which are now used to store farm machinery and straw.
Mr Coutts said he recently went for a walk towards the railway underpass and was greeted by a gang of youths building a fire and drinking cider.
He has put together a photo dossier of the decline in recent months which includes damage to dog poo bins, graffiti on underpass walls, chicken wire on a walkway needing repaired, litter and debris in the burn, a sofa on the nature trail and overgrown grass.
Arbroath community inspector Adrian Robertson said: “I’m concerned that vandalism and anti-social behaviour is having a negative impact upon a popular area that is enjoyed by the community.”
He said police resources are generally employed to the places of greatest need and as such St Vigeans Nature Path was not on their radar as this was the first that he had been made aware of the issues.
“I will now be tasking a community officer to go up there and view it and we will look to increase our activity there at the weekend,” he added.
“If a member of the public comes across instances of anti-social behaviour or vandalism we would urge them to make us aware of them so we can respond as quickly as possible.”
A council spokesperson said: “Thank you for drawing these issues to our attention, the services concerned have been informed. Residents are asked to report any similar problems to our customer service team on 08452 777 778 or Police Scotland on 101. The council cuts the grass twice a year and the first cut is due in the next week or so.”