VANDALS who targeted a village’s bus shelter have been blasted by a local councillor.

Councillor Tom Trotter was “absolutely disgusted” to see the state of Athelstaneford’s bus shelter, beside the village’s bowling club, on Glebe Crescent.

The wooden bus shelter, which also has a slated roof, was specially designed to fit in with the character of the village, rather than the standard metal and plastic version, which can be found elsewhere in the county.

Mr Trotter highlighted the issues at Haddington and District Community Council’s meeting last Tuesday.

The group covers not just Haddington but the outlying village, although neither Haig Hamilton nor Harald Vox, who stay in or near the village, were at the meeting.

Mr Trotter told members: “The bus shelter was put there at a lot of expense and has been repaired on a number of occasions already.

“I am absolutely disgusted because it is well used but it is not going to keep people dry the state it is in.”

Mr Trotter was hopeful that a solution could be reached and described the vandalism of the shelter as “very disappointing”.

He added that the local authority had taken a great deal of time to speak to residents in the village about creating the bus shelter in the first place and it was “deeply disappointing” to see it being targeted by vandals.

The issue was raised earlier this year by Mr Vox, who joined the community council in February.

He told members the bus shelter was being used as “a goal” by youngsters and had become damaged.

Mr Vox, who has lived in the county for more than 30 years, was keen to see the youngsters involved in fixing the bus shelter, which he hoped would ensure there was a sense of community spirit and avoid it being targeted in the future.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the community council, added: “It is quite shocking a wee village like Athelstaneford could have that amount of damage done.”