A BLAZE in a Scots park has left an iconic bandstand completely destroyed, with Police Scotland now investigating the incident.
The fire in Overtoun Park, Rutherglen on Saturday is believed to have been started deliberately and left the well-known landmark completely ruined.
The bandstand has stood for over a century, having initially been erected in 1914, but burnt down in minutes over the weekend in a suspected arson attack.
An image captured by a local shows the burned out remains of the bandstand’s iconic architecture left blackened and in pieces by the blaze.
Police are treating the fire as “wilful” and are investigating the incident to get to the bottom of the suspected arson.
Locals shared their upset at the loss of the architecture with many sharing stories and memories of the ornate structure.
The image of the burned-out bandstand was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “Bandstand destroyed by arson in Overtoun Park, Rutherglen.”
The post received more than 230 likes and over 100 comments from Scots at a loss as to why someone would destroy the bandstand.
One user said: “I hope when they are grown adults, and they work for something nice and buy it and look after it and it’s enjoyed by their family.
“Then someone burns it down. C***s.”
Another added: “That really sucks. I’m from there, used to play in that park when I was wee, I take my brother’s dog through the park when I’m dog-sitting.
“It’s really shite to see something that you’ve known your whole life torched by some bored neds.”
A third wrote: “I used to play there too. My mother’s from Rutherglen and we used to have a walk and a kick-about with my papa there.”
Another replied: “This was where my great-grandfather proposed to my great-grandmother away back in 1923.
“They had met for a few dates here and it was a special place for them.
“I’ve always imagined how differently the place must’ve looked at that time, and it felt like it was a significant place for me even though I don’t personally have any fond memories of being there. Such a shame that it’s been destroyed.”
Speaking on Saturday a police spokesperson said: “We received a report of a fire at Overtoun Park, Rutherglen, around 12:40am on Saturday, 1 June, 2024.
“The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.”
