Vandals have been warned after a town’s fire service was called out on Sunday for a bizarre rescue effort.
On Sunday morning, a fire engine was called into action shortly after 10am to attend Banff’s former Visitor Information Centre, on Low Street, to remove a bench that had somehow been thrown onto its roof.
The weighty wood and iron chair was eventually brought down at about 10.30am.
But now critics of the prank have said lives could have been put in danger and resources were wasted for the sake of a laugh.
Local councillor John Cox urged people to think twice about recreating the stunt.
He said: “I’m surprised the blue lights services were called out to deal with something like that, unless there has been a danger to people.
“It’s a waste of resource, but I’m sure if there was another matter they would have dealt with that as a priority.
“There’s been a few pranks on that building, I just hope it doesn’t escalate.
“I would like to see that building back in use sooner rather than later, it’s a prime location for business, whether or not that’s for a start-up or otherwise.”
In years gone by, plastic cones have regularly been thrown onto the roof – akin to the famous Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow.
Online, people have been less than impressed.
Commenting on the image of the fire crew bringing the bench down from the building – which is earmarked to become a vegan cafe – Sandy Cummings said: “Certain people think it is funny to put random stuff on this building.
“Previous ‘acts’ have been highlighted to police.
“Now they are wasting [the] valuable time of [the] fire service.”