Christmas islands show vandalised

The display included a polar bear and igloo. Pic: Jeff Zycinski

A festive lights display on islands on the River Ness near Inverness city centre has been damaged by vandals.

Highland Council said more than 10,000 people visited the Ness Islands Lights over the weekend.

It was to run over the festive period, but the damage caused has forced organisers to cancel the show.

The project to transform the small islands into a winter wonderland included illuminations in the shapes of Santa, a deer and a polar bear.

We have strong memories of all the happy faces we saw at the weekend Roy Pedersen Winter festival chairman

Roy Pedersen, chairman of the council's winter festival committee, said the lights displays will have to be removed.

He said: "It is a great shame that we have had to take this action.

"However, we had no choice as the vandalism was not restricted to an isolated incident. We had to think of people's safety and to remove the expensive equipment before it was damaged beyond repair.

"We have strong memories of all the happy faces we saw at the weekend and I am sure it will be the feeling of many councillors that we do not want to give in to mindless vandals and that we can devise a plan that will allow the Ness Islands Lights to shine again next year."

The event was part of the first Inverness Winter Festival, which runs into January.

The lit-up sculptures and other light displays were created by Highland Council's lighting department and Evanton-based company, Arts in Motion.