Two 13-year-old girls have been charged with starting a fire that destroyed a Moray office block causing more than £10,000 worth of damage.
The teenagers are accused of breaking down a door at the Buckie port before starting a blaze in the building.
Macduff Shipyards only bought the ramshackle former council site last week and immediately vowed to spend more than £1million to bring it back into use.
But now the harbour offices have been “gutted” in a blaze that resulted in flames shooting through the roof.
Yesterday police confirmed two 13-year-old girls have been charged with wilful fire-raising at the former Buckie Shipyard Ltd premises. Due to their age they will be reported to the Youth Justice Management Unit.
Buckie councillor Gordon Cowie has previously shone a light on the harbour area becoming a “den” and “hive of activity” for children as buildings were targeted by vandals.
And last night Mr Cowie hoped the arrests would send a warning to other youngsters that consider misbehaving.
He said: “It’s ridiculous that children so young are getting involved in this – it’s just pure vandalism.
“What can you do though? The children don’t realise the dangers they are putting themselves and others in. I don’t understand what they get out of it.
“Hopefully seeing the police take action will put out the message that if you’re caught doing anything like that then there will be consequences.”
Macduff Shipyards began refurbishing the office block the day before the building was reduced to a shell by the fire.
The site has fallen into disrepair since former occupants Buckie Shipyard Ltd folded four years ago.
Extra security measures were planned for the building as the new owners began rejuvenating the docks that are expected to create more than 30 jobs when they reopen next year.
Last night the shipyard’s managing director John Watt was relieved to hear nobody had been hurt in the incident.
He said: “The building was actually in quite good shape inside. We had just started work on it the day before and then I got a phone call to say it was on fire.
“It’s pretty much just the four walls that are left now. It’s been gutted. It started in a room and went through the top of the building.
“It is extremely disappointing that this incident has occurred so early into our ownership.”
Mr Watt added that crews from the firm would carry out the bulk of work to refurbish the offices.
After a fire at an abandoned toilet block at the port last month locals revealed docks near the harbour have also become blighted by fly-tipping with worn carpets and damaged furniture littered across the concrete.
Inspector Neil Campbell has warned parents to take action to prevent their children from entering hazardous buildings.
Emergency services were called to Buckie shipyard at about 5.30pm on Sunday after flames were spotted at the port.
Insp Campbell added: “I cannot stress enough the dangers of starting fires deliberately – you don’t know how the situation will develop and the consequences could be fatal.
“As we get into the longer summer nights, I would urge parents and guardians to please keep an eye on where youngsters are going and congregating. By working together we can make the area we live even safer.”
