A charity art trail has been hit by vandals for a second time.
The Highland Coo squirrel, located at the top of Church Street, was removed for urgent repairs on Saturday after being attacked by vandals.
The monument, designed by pupils from Grantown Grammar School, is one of 23 eye-catching sculptures of the Highland Hospice’s Go Nuts Art Trail.
The 5ft sculpture sponsored by Inverness BID is now back on its spot in the city centre.
Hospice communications officer Wendy Morgan said: “Inverness Bid took a call alerting them to it. The council helped us out in keeping the squirrel in the Town House over night for us.
“The squirrel did get completely knocked off its bolts, it’s bolted down (the one that was damaged) but it was repaired really quickly overnight and it back in place now. We had it repaired and it’s bolted down again.”
The incident is the third instance of vandalism for the charity in recent weeks following the destruction of their squirrel sculpture in Whin Park and a bridge incorporated in the much-loved Ness Islands Railway.
Despite these recent incidents, Mrs Morgan says the charity remains optimistic.
She added: “The focus for us is there is hundreds of people that are enjoying the squirrels and loving the trail and we have seen so many happy pictures of kids and families and individuals just taking pictures at the squirrels and it’s a shame that the actions of a few individuals are causing these things to happen but overall we are just delighted of how the Go Nuts Art Trail has been so far.”
Councillor Bet McAllister said: “Why are people doing that, do they not realise why it’s there and what it’s for? I just don’t understand why anyone would want to do that, it’s not as if it’s in anyone’s way. Do they think it’s funny doing it?
“I really do think people need to know about why the squirrel is there and please, please if anyone sees anyone damage it, would they just come forward or if they don’t want to just speak to that person and explain what they have done.”
