Young trio charged with setting fire to bridge

THREE teenagers have been charged with wilful fire-raising after they set a bridge on fire in Dumfries last week. The bridge at Popeyes Park, just off Lincluden Community Centre, sustained extensive damage after a bin was set ablaze on it, which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the anchor shaped structure. Community officers from Dumfries have been carrying out extensive enquiries in relation to the fire. And as a result of their enquiries, three young males, two aged 15 and one aged 16, have been charged with wilful fire raising. A report will now be sent to the youth justice coordinator. Lincluden Community Centre had released a statement about the incident in which they said that their CCTV caught people setting fire to the clothing bin – which was used to raise money for community events. The statement read: “Absolute devastation. There is no way this can be repaired. Only a few feet of one access point and one point of the anchor left. “The bridge was shaped as an anchor as a way of keeping the nickname for the park alive. “Over 20 years of seeking funding gone in seconds, why?”