Mindless vandals put a popular Fife gala day event at risk after burning portable toilets to the ground in a public park.
The Benarty Gala and Parade will go ahead as planned on Sunday thanks to the tremendous resilience of the local community, but organisers were left with a huge headache after the toilets brought in to Lochore Meadows Country Park were deliberately set alight by local youths late on Friday night.
With the additional public conveniences a condition for use of the park, those involved with the gala committee were frantically trying to source replacements in time for the festivities on Sunday.
Thankfully, local men John McIntyre and Ian Bruce stepped in to help out and the matter has now been resolved, meaning that the thousands of local parents and school children would not be left disappointed.
Nevertheless, angry residents have taken to social media to condemn the culprits, amid reports that the fire brigade had to be called on a number of occasions due to youths targeting the portable loos.
Marion Mcaleese was one of those who vented her anger on Facebook.
“What a sin,” she said.
“The Benarty Events team have put a lot of hard work and money into these events and this is how kids repay them?
“What a joke, and if it gets cancelled there will be a lot of unhappy kids in this area.
“This is the one event they look forward to every year.”
Benarty Events Group confirmed they had been forced to “contemplate” cancelling the children’s gala at Lochore Meadows as a result of the vandalism, but members are delighted they can get the show on the road as planned in spite of the firebugs.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that a crew from Lochgelly had been called to extinguish the blaze at 11.57pm.
Firefighters found the portable toilets well alight and used one hose reel jet to bring the situation under control safely.
However, the toilets have been completely burned to the ground.
Police are expected to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
