Two teenagers have been charged after a bird hide at a Moray beauty spot was completely destroyed by a fire.
Locals who tend to the Chapelton Farm wetland near Forres turned up last month to discover that the site had been reduced to charred remains.
And following an investigation police have confirmed that two 16-year-old have now been charged in relation to an alleged culpable and reckless fireraising claimed to have happened on Saturday, January 13.
The pair will now be reported to the Youth Justice Management Unit.
Police Constable Sean Wood, who investigated the incident, said: “I would like thank members of the community in Forres who assisted with inquiries.”
The future of the site has been thrown into doubt due to the fire.
The owners spent £20,000 on the structure around four years ago and it is not yet clear if a replacement bird hide will be built.
Edward Dunbar, a managing agent for the estate, said it had been popular in the nearby area.
He said: “It was off the main road. You had to know it was there to find it, but it was very well used during the day.
“A lot of people liked the quiet spot and there were a lot of positive comments made about it and the wildlife you could see.
“However, by night it appears that the hide had an alternative use.
“Drink cans have been found and there’s been graffiti but nothing to suggest this would happen.”
Among the common attractions of the wetland, which was formed following work on the Mosset Burn flood scheme, were wading birds, wild fowl and ducks.
There were also reported sightings of otters at the countryside location on the south-eastern edge of Forres.
