Repeated vandalism at a historic attraction is partly due to a lack of education, it has been claimed.
Police in Angus are still looking for clues after the 12th Century Arbroath Abbey, one of the oldest tourist attractions in Angus, was damaged to the tune of £1,500.
Staff were left picking up the pieces last week after one of the Abbot House visitor centre’s main windows was smashed.
Arbroath Abbey Action Group was formed to promote the location as a travel destination and educational resource for Scottish schools.
The group’s chairman Harry Ritchie said a wave of damage to the abbey and its visitor centre poses questions as to how people are “brought up”.
He said he was very disappointed in the most recent damage and added: “It is obvious that those guilty of this offence have no pride in our town and its history, and it raises questions as to how they were brought up.
“I blame to some extent the lack of local history taught in schools, although in fairness, I am aware that Angus Council appointed a person to visit the schools in the county in an endeavour to increase the awareness of the history of Arbroath Abbey and the Declaration of Arbroath.
“It is still, however, up to the individual teachers to arrange visits to the abbey and whether or not they stress the importance of the history.”
Unfortunately, the abbey has come in for attention of the wrong sort before, after its visitor centre suffered £5,000 worth of damage last year.
Three windows were smashed on February 28 last year and the incident was added to a litany of vandalism stretching back decades.
The abbey is best known for the 1320 document that formally confirmed the nobility’s support of Scottish independence from English rule.
The document was written after Robert the Bruce’s victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314.
Mr Ritchie recognised the work of primary schools in getting children motivated about the Declaration of Arbroath, but hopes more would “make the same effort”.
“I know that Hayshead school are regular visitors to our abbey and the teachers involved must be thanked for their efforts,” he said.
Police Scotland said that inquiries into the incident are “still continuing”.