THUGS vandalised a WWI soldier’s grave at Stevenston’s New Street Cemetery.

Broken glass was found last week around the resting place of Sapper McCallum, a Royal Engineer who died on July 5, 1919.

Members of the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch of the Royal British Legion tidied the mess but were shocked to discover this week that the soldier’s headstone was stained with what they believe to be urine.

Suzanne Fernando from the Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston branch of the Royal British Legion branch, said: “There was broken glass over the front and back of Sapper McCallum’s grave. It’s been cleaned up as much as possible and we reported the issue to North Ayrshire Council.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are very disappointed that vandals have targeted the grave of one of our war heroes.

“Our grounds maintenance teams work incredibly hard and thoughtless and disrespectful acts of vandalism like this can affect the whole community.

“We would urge members of the public who witness acts of vandalism to please report it to local police.”

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “We would ask and encourage that this is reported to us for us to investigate.”