Police last night said they are treating a fire which gutted farm buildings on the outskirts of an Aberdeenshire village as suspicious.
Emergency services were called to a the blaze in the derelict outhouse at Mameulah Farm in the early hours of Monday morning – prompting an appeal for information from the public.
The farm house and outbuildings are located near the junction of the B979 Newmachar to Kingseat and the A947 Whiterashes to Newmachar roads.
Appeal for information after farm building fire in Aberdeenshire
The property has been empty for a number of years and owner Alan Buchan last night said he has had to call the police in the past to report vandalism around the site.
He also said he was forced to put up a security gate on the farm driveway in order to deter people from fly-tipping.
Last night Mr Buchan voiced his concern about the safety on the site and added: “We disconnected all the electricity up there ages ago after all the windows got broken – so I can’t see how a fire could have started without any help.
“I don’t know who has been up there, but we regularly have to tidy up broken glass and bottles. There isn’t anything up there of any value, but I think kids have been up there messing about.
“There’s a group of kids in the village that is generally causing trouble at the moment – and whether or not it is them – I don’t know.
“These kids are feral – they need some parental or police action – they are getting out of control.”
Police put out an appeal last night for information and a spokeswoman said: “The fire is being treated as suspicious. Emergency services were called to the building, which is opposite the Newmachar Hotel, at 2.20am on Monday, May 22.
“It was extinguished by personnel from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who contained the damage to one building.”
A group of youths were recently banned from the village’s Axis centre after verbally abusing a female member of staff and one other has been banned from the local Co-Op.
Constable Emma Strachan, who is leading the fire-raising investigation, said: “There is a possibility that this fire had been smouldering for some time prior to being discovered.
“I would ask that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, or who is aware of any people who may frequent the premises, to please contact 101.
“You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous.”
