Vandals have made their mark on the new flood protection wall in Inverness
The graffiti was daubed in red paint on the River Ness defence.
City councillor Donnie Kerr said he was “disappointed” by the damage and described the vandal as “mindless.”
Mr Kerr said: “It’s red paint on the brand new sandstone which, I’m afraid might not be too easy to clean depending on the type of paint because sandstone does tend to sap things up.
“It’s disappointing as a local councillor after all the money spent, especially all the common good fund money spent on making the flood walls look attractive as part of the streetscape scheme, that before it’s even completed people have decided to make their mark on it.”
Police are seeking any information on those who caused the damage.
Mr Kerr has emailed council officials over the vandalism, with another piece of graffiti left downriver on the same stretch of wall.
He said: “I wish this outrage tidied up and removed ASAP, what I do not want nor will accept is buck-passing between various parties to see who is responsible for this area.
“This is still part of the site and although currently this paving area is open to the public the maintenance of the area has not yet been taken on by community services.”
He hoped CCTV footage may help track down those responsible.
A spokesman for the police in Inverness said: “At around 9.35am on Saturday we received a report of vandalism from a member of the public which consisted of graffiti in both the Huntly Street and Grieg Street Bridge areas.
“The incident is thought to have occurred between 4.30pm on Friday and 7.45am on Saturday.”
Police in Lerwick are appealing for any information regarding a similar piece of graffiti across a door of a Masonic Lodge in the town’s Queens Lane.
The attack happened between 11pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday.
Anyone with information about either incident should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.