Firebugs risk gala by razing toilets to ground

Vandals put a popular Fife gala day event at risk after burning portable toilets to the ground in a park.

The Benarty Gala and Parade went ahead as planned yesterday thanks to the tremendous resilience of the local community, but organisers were left with a huge headache after the toilets brought in to Lochore Meadows Country Park were deliberately set alight on Friday night.

With the public conveniences a condition for use of the park, the gala committee was frantically trying to source replacements in time for yesterday’s festivities.

Thankfully the matter was resolved, meaning the thousands of local parents and school children would not be left disappointed.

Angry residents took to social media to condemn the culprits, amid reports the fire brigade had to be called on a number of occasions due to youths targeting the portable loos.

Marion Mcaleese was one of those who vented her anger on Facebook, adding: “What a sin. The Benarty Events team have put a lot of hard work and money into these events and this is how kids repay them?”

Around £10,000 worth of damage was done as the toilets went up in smoke.

Benarty Events Group confirmed they had been forced to “contemplate” cancelling the gala as a result, but members were delighted they could lay on activities as planned in spite of the firebugs.

It was a good job, as organisers sold a record 3,700 gala boxes and funfair wristband tickets ahead of the event – and that was after 800 local school children were given free tickets.

A fire service spokeswoman confirmed a crew from Lochgelly had been called to extinguish the blaze at 11.57pm.

Committee members Eddie Easson, Brian Menzies and John Geddes.