Large paint containers have been dumped at a special site of scientific interest in the north-east.
The items – described as “stinking” by locals – were fly-tipped at the Woodhead and Windyhills woods, two miles from Fyvie.
Owned by the community and cared for by dedicated volunteers, the site is protected due to its unique geological deposits – the quartzite “Pliocene” gravels of Buchan.
But locals were saddened after four large containers were dumped within the site’s car park on Wednesday night.
Local resident James Young walks his dogs through the woodlands most days and was shocked to see them blighted by the fly-tipping.
He said: “The tubs were left right in the middle of the car park, stinking of paint and right in front of a sign that says ‘no dumping’.
“The containers have obviously been left by someone who does quite a lot of painting and who knows the area.
“It’s disgusting and such a shame as we’ve such a great community who maintain this area and give up their time to make our village lovely.
“For someone to then just come along and dump things is just not on.”
Chairman of the council’s infrastructure services committee, Peter Argyle, said: “Most right-minded people wouldn’t even think about tipping a washing machine or random household rubbish at a quiet rural location, but clearly many people do, and we need to work together to stop it.”
The woods were designated a site of special scientific interest in the 1980s due to the rarity of the mineral deposits there.
Upon hearing news of the fly-tipping, members of Woodhead and Windyhills Community Trust sprung into action to remove the containers.
Volunteers have recently been preparing for the Village in Bloom scheme and are hoping to welcome new visitors to the area next week as the Formartine Ranger leads a walk around the woods.
The event will take place on Wednesday, starting at the community centre at 7.30pm, for any member of the public interested in visiting the well-loved woods.