Greyfriars Bobby vandalised following repairs

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following vandalism to an iconic city-centre monument.

Sometime between 1pm on Tuesday 1 October 2013 and 5pm on Wednesday 2 october 2013 the statue in tribute to Greyfriar’s Bobby was damaged.

The bronze depiction of the terrier dog on George IV Bridge had undergone repair work to repaint its nose the previous day.

However, it has been established that an abrasive material has since been intentionally used on the nose, stripping the repaired area.

The estimated cost of the damage is believed to be around £200-£300.

Officers are conducting local enquiries to identify those responsible and anyone who can assist with their investigation is asked to come forward.

PC Nick Davies said:- “This crime is as unusual as it is disappointing to observe. The statue is a beloved tourist attraction and is also very popular with Edinburgh’s local residents.

“The nose has recently been touched up to restore it following years of wear and at first it was believed the repair had not adhered correctly to the monument.

“However, we are now treating this as an act of vandalism after discovering that an abrasive has been used to remove the material from the repaired area.

“As such, anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity around Greyfriar’s Bobby in the past few days is asked to contact police.”

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: -“The work carried out should have lasted for a number of years and it is highly unlikely that it would have worn away naturally in such a short space of time.

“We will, of course, organise the repair work to be undertaken again and hope that in future people respect the statue of Greyfriars Bobby.”

The work cost the council £500 as reported earlier in the week.

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.