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The sign at the entrance to the village centre warning against unnecessary travel before it was vandalised.

A LOCAL village is at the centre of a coronavirus-centred dispute.

A man representing "concerned residents of Findhorn", Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council (FKCC) member, Hamish Grigor, was dismayed when a sign he had erected at the village perimeter warning against driving into Findhorn unless absolutely necessary, was vandalised.

He said: "Due to the volume of people driving into Findhorn to go for a walk, it was with regret that concerned residents put up the sign to politely ask people to follow the government guidelines.

"We recognise how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy the beach that is on our doorstep but Findhorn was attracting many visitors from further afield and we are very much aware of the need to protect our high proportion of elderly residents.

"The sign was not there to discourage people walking or cycling to the village as part of their daily exercise. It was targeted and worded to ask people not to drive to Findhorn for exercise."

An original sign was erected next to the Findhorn signpost on the way into the village. Mr Grigor alleges that it was removed by the owner of a local business.

A replacement sign was then placed on private land next to the village war memorial at the start of the one-way road system. It remained intact for a few days before a slogan was spray-painted over it.

The sign was daubed with the words 'Mental health not greed'.

"This upset a large number of residents," said Mr Grigor. "Whether they supported the placing of the sign or not, someone committed an act of vandalism in our beautiful village, a fortunately unusual occurrence.

"Many of us find it hard to understand why anyone would be offended by a sign urging people to follow the official guidance and not drive unnecessarily."

Local policing inspector for Forres, Lossiemouth and Fochabers, Kerry Rigg, confirmed police have not received a report of vandalism to the signs to date.

She added: "The matter of the signage is not deemed to be criminal and presently not a police matter."

Bakehouse co-owner, David Hoyle, claims to be one of a large group of people and groups who object to the signs.

He said: "Most are just the ordinary people of the area following government guidelines on local area exercise and food shopping who feel they are being judged and harassed by this shadowy group.

"The primary objection is that a small group of self-appointed villagers, without any form of consultation or authority, have put up these signs despite it being illegal and a representative of FKCC asking them not to.

"This group have further fuelled the issue by claiming objectors to the sign do not care about villagers, older or vulnerable people. Sadly, it's the usual us and them tactics."

Mr Hoyle believes the group members who put the signs up want to visit regional supermarkets for essentials but object to people from the area visiting shops like the Bakehouse for similar items.

He added: "Whilst health is of course the primary issue at this time, to imagine all the issues around climate change, food miles, poor diet, rural economies etc. have gone away would indeed be misinformed."

Mr Hoyle has used social media to encourage reporting the signs to Moray Council for "promoting unwelcoming behaviours and creating tension, distress and anxiety".

A local authority spokeswoman confirmed the antisocial behaviour department has received 13 complaints in regard to the signs so far, adding: "This is a policing matter".