Wick's food bank – visited by King Charles III in August – is attacked by 'mindless' vandals

Police in Wick are investigating a spate of vandalism around Caithness Foodbank that saw 10 windows smashed at the back of the facility which had recently been visited by King Charles III.

Caithness Foodbank trustee Pat Grant condemned the "mindless vandalism" that has taken place over several nights at the historic Carnegie building on Sinclair Terrace where the food bank is housed.

"I would say it's a minority of young people that have been involved and it's really knocked us," Mrs Grant told the Groat.

King Charles III, when he was heir apparent to the throne, visited Caithness Foodbank in August and was "deeply impressed" with the work that went on there along with other community initiatives he learnt about on his tour of the facility. Grant Ramsay, chair of Caithness Foodbank and Mrs Grant's husband, said after the visit: "We explained to him what the food bank was, when it was established and how 10 tons of food have been given to folk over the past year."

Mrs Grant said that the soon-to-be king also gave a "very generous donation" of various foodstuffs to the food bank that was gratefully accepted after his visit. Regarding the latest attack on the building, which was discovered on Wednesday morning, she said: "A volunteer reported it after he went to the building pick up some crates for a supermarket collection and was met with broken glass.

"The operation of the food bank has been hindered by it as there's glass, huge stones and lumps of metal to clear up. It's just mindless vandalism. It's from a minority of youths and not from small kids due to the size of the stones and the force of it. One of the stones went through the window and went right across the room – it's been very forceful."

Mrs Grant stressed how she is "very supportive of young people" and hates to tarnish all youths when it was "obviously a small minority" involved. She has long experience in working with children and was headteacher at Miller Academy in Thurso until retiring a few years ago.

"We're so grateful for the support from the community but it's impacted the running of the food bank in these difficult times. It's also the beautiful Carnegie building and why should they target that? It's a dark place with no lighting or CCTV so they go breaking windows. I know young people need places to be but hanging around the back of the Carnegie building causing damage is not the thing to do."

Provost of Wick, Councillor Jan McEwan, said: "I am absolutely disgusted at this wanton behaviour. This food bank facility is to help and assist the community and in particular at this time of rising costs, more and more people are needing to use it.

"I am sure everyone will share my opinion and I ask that if anyone knows who is responsible that they come forward not just for this vandalism but for the other vandalism in the town. We all need to play our part in making Wick a safer and kinder place that we can be proud of."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police in Wick have received three reports of vandalism to a premises in the Sinclair Terrace area over the past few days. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information on the recent spate of vandalism in the town is urged to contact the police by phoning 101.