Hoodies behind vandalism clean-up

Two youths in hooded tops mysteriously cleaned up the abuse

Two "hoodies" are at the centre of a vandalism mystery after cleaning spray-painted abuse from a bus at a school for children with special needs.

The mini-bus at the Anna Ritchie School in Peterhead had been vandalised in recent weeks.

However, two youths with their faces covered by hooded tops were captured on CCTV spending more than an hour scrubbing the abuse during the night.

One theory is a guilty conscience, or parents sending them to clean it up.

Too often the youths are condemned. For a change this is a good news story Ishbel Cruickshank Head teacher

Staff at the school said the mini-bus was important for the children and that the clean-up had restored their faith in young people.

Head teacher Ishbel Cruickshank told BBC Scotland: "Our mini-bus had been vandalised during the Easter holidays. However, then I found it had gone.

"I spoke to the janitor thinking he had removed it, but the CCTV footage showed two youths removing it.

"They were aware they were being filmed, they never turned to look at the camera and we never saw their faces as they wore hooded tops."

'Future hope'

She added: "I was just delighted. We may never know who it was, was it the people who did it in the first place? However, we are very grateful.

"I am really very glad that someone has acted. Too often the youths are condemned. For a change this is a good news story."

Grampian Police confirmed there had been vandalism between 29 March and 9 April.

Staff then discovered it had been cleaned off when they arrived on 11 April.

Sgt Phillip Guest, of Grampian Police North Aberdeenshire Division, said: "Grampian Police do not condone acts of vandalism of any kind and the targeting of a school for damage is particularly unnecessary.

"We do however see hope for the future in the actions of these two youths in removing the graffiti, but we would still encourage them to contact the police so we can get to the bottom of who was responsible for this incident."