The man in charge of Dundee’s popular Oor Wullie Bucket Trail has expressed his disappointment after one of the statues was removed from its base and dumped on the road.
Police were called in the early hours of Sunday morning after Barnhill Rock Garden’s Wullie was discovered lying on the ground.
The figure, dubbed “Dreamland Wullie”, had been ripped from its base and left abandoned in the middle of the road.
Part of Wullie’s bucket and a piece of his foot were left behind.
After being discovered, the vandalised structure was taken to Dundee’s Longhaugh police station.
The statue will be returned to rude health at the “Wullie hospital” before it is sold at auction to raise charity funds.
It’s the fourth time one of the 55 structures has been targeted.
Last month a statue located in Dundee’s Hilltown was attacked the day after Ardler’s Oor Wullie was found lying on the ground.
And in June Magdalen Green’s Wullie was defaced with black paint.
Tour manager Neil Cooney said: “It’s disappointing because this is the last week of the tour.
“I got a call this morning to tell me what had happened and it seems police were called in the middle of the night because Wullie was found in the middle of the road.
“The police came out and picked it up and now have it secured in Longhaugh police station.
“All that’s been left is a foot and the bucket itself.”
Mr Cooney feels a lack of CCTV within the area may have proven too tempting for vandals.
He added: “We’ve had a few problems here in Barnhill.
“I think because it’s a big open space with no CCTV.
“It’s a shame because there’s no need for it to happen.”
