Houseboat residents at an Inverness beauty spot have hit out at gang of antisocial youths who have plagued them for several weeks.
Boat owners at the Muirtown Basin marina on the Caledonian Canal say they have had their vessels damaged by rocks – while others claim they have been verbally abused.
Now Scottish Canals, which operates the waterway, is installing new CCTV cameras in the area.
Car mechanic Matthew McGrath has lived aboard his boat Breaking Away for two years and said the front window of the cruiser was smashed after a large stone was thrown at it.
Mr McGrath claimed residents had been bothered by a group of around “six to eight teenagers” who had regularly caused disruption on the tow paths.
He said: “It’s like a little community we have who live at the basin on about seven or eight boats.
“It’s been a real problem with them throwing the stones and really being a nuisance.
“My neighbour had a real run-in with them after he caught them throwing stones at his boat. I’ve had my window broken after someone threw a huge rock at the boat.
“They’re like a gang. They go up and down on this motocross bike and there’s all these people walking their dogs down there.
“It’s a real shame because it should be a good peaceful place to live.”
The marina is part of a wider plan to transform the Muirtown Basin and the South Kessock area into a vibrant centre for leisure and tourism.
Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr said: “As a local councillor I have to say it is disappointing because we are trying to encourage more houseboats in the area and for people to use the canal paths.
“There had been disturbances a few months back, including a problem with kids with scrambler bikes who had a habit of steering it at members of the public out walking their dogs.
“I thought that had been dealt with so I’m disappointed to here there are still problems.
“They are as entitled to use the canal paths as anyone else but they are also expected to be courteous to people.”
A police spokesman said that they had been made aware of reports of vandalism in the Muirtown Basin, and that they were still investigating.