Anti-guga hunt graffiti sprayed on nature body's premises

Scotland's nature body says police are investigating vandalism at its headquarters in Inverness.

Slogans have been sprayed on walls opposing the Western Isles' traditional guga hunt, which NatureScot issues licences for.

For hundreds of years, young gannets have been killed for their meat during the annual hunt on Sula Sgeir, a small rocky island 40 miles (64km) north of Ness on the Isle of Lewis.

Hunters argue the practice dates back to the 15th Century and is part of their heritage, but animal welfare campaigners say the hunt is unnecessary.

NatureScot said: "We are aware of the criminal damage at NatureScot's Great Glen House property in Inverness.

"As this is now a police matter, we are unable to comment further at this time."

Last month, MSPs agreed that a petition calling for an end to the hunt remained open until a decision was taken on whether it should be put forward for further consideration after May's Scottish elections.

The petition has gathered more than 85,000 signatures - the most names of any petition in the current session of Scottish parliament.