A huge machete was found dumped near a Scots church, with police launching a probe into the incident.
Disturbed locals have slammed the 'sickening' lout who discarded the weapon near St Kenneth's and Bernard Catholic Church on Hill Road in Ballingry, Fife.
The blade was discovered at around 3.20pm on Thursday, December 9 before it was handed in to the local police station.
A shocked resident couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted the large machete lying on a grassy area near the street.
They immediately called cops who told them to stay there while they collected it.
A picture taken by the worried local shows the huge, black blade, which has an orange handle.
They posted the footage on social media, and said: "Machete found in the chapel, just over the fence from St Kenneth’s.
"Police been called to come get it. Been told to stand and wait until police arrive.
"What goes through folks minds to be throwing it right next to a school where my bairn and other bairns run about at home time... never mind carrying it!
"Scary as hell to think my bairn and other bairns were near this and knows not to touch things like this but who’s to say other kids wouldn’t have picked this up thinking it was a ‘cool’ sword! Sickening!!"
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received a report of a bladed object having been found on the ground in the Hill Road area of Ballingry around 3.20pm on Thursday, December 9.
"The object was handed into the local police station."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
