AN HISTORIC water well and ring maker have been stolen from outside an old blacksmiths building in an East Lothian village.

The Smiddy, on Main Street, East Saltoun, dates back at least to the early 1900s.

Now owned by Mr and Mrs Duff, who live in the attached home beside it, the building is no longer used as a blacksmith, with many of its historic features left for decorative purposes.

Outside, its small outdoor well and ring maker are no longer functioning but served a decorative purpose before being taken.

Nicola Duff, whose parents own the building, said that the well, which is about three-foot tall, was taken in broad daylight and that it had significant historical value to the building.

She said: “It’s an old water well that has been in the village since at least the early 1970s, potentially a lot longer.

“The well itself isn’t overly expensive but the history of the water well is a huge part of the village and the Smiddy.

“The Smiddy is quite central to East Saltoun so is a big part of its history.”

Nicola said that she was made aware of the theft by a neighbour who saw two men take the iron well, which was fitted into the ground.

She said: “A neighbour saw a white van and two men get out and take it whilst he was driving past.

“The van was seen driving up and down Main Street and also up and down Petersmuir Road, later leaving the village heading towards Pencaitland past the school.

"It is crazy as it was all done so brazenly in broad daylight too.

“There has also been another neighbour come forward to say they have had some radiators stolen from their drive.

"And an old-fashioned ring maker was also stolen from the property.

"This came to the village at the same time as the water well.”

Police confirmed that enquiries were ongoing into the incident.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received a report that a water well had been stolen from East Saltoun around 9.45am on Thursday, June 1. Enquiries are ongoing."