A pair of iconic “yellow wellies” used as a plant pot outside a north lifeboat station have been stolen by thieves.
The old wellies, symbolising the RNLI’s yellow coloured full weather clothing, were dug up and taken from a floral display by the entrance to Invergordon Lifeboat Station overnight from Thursday into Friday.
The missing footwear was used by crew on board the Douglas Aitken Trent Class lifeboat for years and had been lying around the station unused, and volunteers decided to plant flowers in them.
Strangely, the thieves left a second pair of yellow wellies untouched in a barrel of flowers on the opposite side of the entrance door.
The bemusing discovery was made this morning by station mechanic Kevin Dent, who described the incident as a “terrible act” and he found it disheartening that someone would steal such an iconic piece from the charity.
The floral display has been admired by visitors to the station from all around the world, particularly those coming off cruise liners.
Each May, the RNLI also holds a “yellow wellie” fundraiser which helps to keep the lifeboat centre afloat.
Police have not been contacted about the theft but the RNLI Invergordon lifeboat page on a social networking site has already generated a number of comments from the community.
Michael MacDonald, spokesman for Invergordon lifeboat station, said: “There is a serious aspect to this because it is theft at the end of the day. It’s disheartening to have something like that taken from our station because we are a close part of the community and we have our open days and the raft race fundraisers. It’s just a shame that someone thought they could take them.
“We may have been a target of a prank but it’s an unusual thing for us to see happen. We will try and sort out another pair from our surplus collection if there are any available.
“We are a charity and it’s now a case of raising awareness through the local community to see if we can get the wellies back.”
A keyring reward is offered on the safe return of the wellies complete with fuchsia trailing begonia plants undamaged.
Anyone with information about the missing wellies should contact the RNLI Invergordon lifeboat station on 01349 853915.