Controversy continues to rage over “enhancements” to Dumfries’ prized statue of Scotland’s Bard.
Robert Burns has come under the spotlight once more, in timely fashion.
But it isn’t a celebration of the famed poet’s national day on January 25 that’s seen him receive renewed public attention.
Instead, it’s the efforts of a band of pranksters to adorn the treasured monument with an ever-new and original range of accessories.
Following the appearance of a cone on the statue earlier this week, an attempt was made on Wednesday to adorn Burns with winter woolies.
A failed bid to prepare Rabbie for a cold snap with the addition of a hat and scarf, fuelled further controversy.
The culprits filmed the aborted attempt and posted it on social media, drawing another mixed response from residents.
While some took to Facebook to say they were impressed by the hi-jinks, others branded those behind the move “morons”.
Tommy McDonald said: “What gives these idiots the right to climb up the statue and possibly damage it? Seriously they need to get a life. It’s not remotely funny.”
But Miller Caldwell, president of Dumfries and Galloway Burns Association, said: “Burns had a few jokes of his own so I’m not sure that he would have been offended.”
A police spokesman said: “We would caution against antisocial or unsafe behaviour.”
