Staff at Newhailes House in Musselburgh were left shocked after a group of youths decided to "use our historic windows for target practice".

Newhailes House - a 17th century villa run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) - was vandalised on Sunday evening.

A group of youths have been caught on CCTV, a social media post from Newhailes House and Gardens said.

It stated: "We were visited by a delightful group of young people who thought it would be fun to use our historic windows for target practice.

"The police have been contacted and the much better quality CCTV, where these people are easily identified, will be handed over. Fixing this damage is a drain on our charity’s resources and diverts funds away from our conservation cause."

Further information provided to the Courier by the NTS confirmed one window at the visitor attraction was smashed. CCTV footage has been passed to the police who are dealing with the incident.

A spokesperson for the National Trust for Scotland said: "Incidents like this divert our charity’s limited funds from other vital conservation work and activities we had planned for Newhailes. If anyone has any information please contact the police."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We were made aware around 10am on Monday, May 8, of damage caused at Newhailes House near Musselburgh. Enquiries are ongoing."

Newhailes, which is Category A listed, was the home of the Dalrymple family for more than 300 years and has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1997.