Bosses at an amateur Scots football club have been left baffled after the gates to their home pitch were stolen by thieves.
Inver FC, near Tain, slammed the shocking theft which is believed to have taken place on Friday or Saturday night at their playing field at Osprey Park.
The football club, who play in the North West Sutherland amateur league, believe the gates will now have been cut up and sold for scrap money. Photographs shared on Facebook show fence polls that have been ripped out of the ground.
In a statement on social media, club bosses described the thief as a "scumbag" as they said it was already a struggle to keep things afloat without the extra cost.
Inver FC said: "Sad to have to post this but some scumbag has stolen our gates.
"If you’ve seen anything suspicious please get in touch. I think it must have happened on Friday or Saturday night. The police have been informed, although there is probably little they can do. Chances are they’ll be cut up by now and sold for scrap.
"Anyone who has ever been involved in a club will appreciate the work that’s involved in trying to keep groups afloat. We’ve been working hard to try and get enough funds to renew our fence, the last thing we needed was to have to buy new gates as well.
"Make sure everything is locked up folks."
Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft. A spokesperson said: "At 8.50am on Monday, January 24, we received a report of the theft of gates from Village Road in Inver.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
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