Vandals have attacked gravestones in the historic Howff cemetery in the centre of Dundee, scrawling the word Satan across one of the centuries old monuments.
The headstone, which is visible from the Barrack Street entrance, was daubed with pink and blue chalk.
The gravestone was erected by merchant John Robertson in memory of a number of his children who died between 1797 and 1812.
An iron gravestone on the other side of the burial ground was also targeted, with a cross drawn on it.
Howff Conservation Group chairman Simon Goulding visited the site yesterday to assess the damage.
The culprits appeared to have pressed so hard on the stone that marks were left behind, but Mr Goulding said he hoped the effects would not be lasting.
It was the latest in a number of incidents at the Howff, which dates back to the 16th Century and is home to one of the most important collections of gravestones in Scotland.
The entire burial yard is protected as a Category A listed building.
Mr Goulding said: “It’s a historic site and people require access so we can’t lock it during the day so we just have to deal with what comes along with it.
“It’s a shame that people feel they have to do this.
“It’s not the oldest stone, but it is one of the more prominent ones as you come in.
“This stone was moved along with many others between 1833 and 1834. I don’t think there is anything specific against this stone, it will just have been the first one they came to I think.
“It’s very sad and we wish that people would respect the gravestones. Defacing a listed building, which the whole of the Howff is, is a criminal offence.”
The Howff was not the only property targeted by vandals in the latest spree.
Crosses were daubed along the wall of the nearby Dundee Criminal Justice Services building on Barrack Street, while lewd messages were scrawled along Ward Road.
Last year vandals spraypainted the exterior wall of the Howff on Barrack Street.
At first there were fears it could not be easily cleaned, due to the risks of causing further damage to historic stonework, however Dundee City Council managed to remove any sign of the culprits’ handiwork.
