SMASHED bottles found embedded in the grass in Peebles’ parks and sports pitches could cause serious injury, a meeting has heard.

In a repeat of incidents, in January 2020, glass has again been found on playing surfaces and public spaces around the town.

Giving his police report, Peebles Community councillor Malcolm Bruce told this month’s meeting: “I was going to mention this very recent trend of upending bottles, in the various grassed areas around the town, so that they are firm structures and smashing them.

“Anybody playing rugby, for instance in Hay Lodge, could potentially fall on a fairly lethal piece of broken glass.

“There has been lots of chat about it online.”

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Photographs of smashed bottles have been uploaded to the Facebook page ‘Peebles Community: Vandalism and Petty Crime Help Group’.

Mr Bruce added that he wanted to pay tribute to a couple of Scottish Borders Council operatives, Andrew Dodds and his co-worker George Forrest.

“These two guys spend their entire working days, sometimes, tidying up after these wee thugs,” said Mr Bruce. “It is a thankless task going round clearing up broken glass.

“Andrew puts bin bags in the known locations where the kids gather in the hope that they will put their rubbish in the bags.

“For the three councillors present, I think these guys need a gold star for what they do.”

A member of the public said that unfortunately “about five per cent of youngsters” are intent on “destroying everything”.

She added that rugby and football coaches have to scour the pitches before games in case there is broken glass.