A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged by police in connection with vandalising a war memorial in Cowdenbeath.

Police Scotland have confirmed that the youngster has been traced following an investigation into the incident last month, which Community Inspector Gavin Cameron described as "despicable" to the Times.

The vandalism, which saw black pens used to scrawl graffiti over the memorial in the town's public park to those lost in the First World War, is believed to have taken place over the weekend of March 17-18.

Officers used Cowdenbeath Police's Twitter feed to confirm that they had "traced and charged a young person" as a consequence of their enquiries, while a Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: "Police in Fife have charged a 12 year-old boy in connection with the vandalism to a War Memorial in Cowdenbeath, which was reported to officers on Monday 19 March.

"A report will be submitted to the Children's Reporter."

Cowdenbeath Councillor Darren Watt praised the "great work from our local community officers" following the news, after hitting out at the "senseless" desecration of the tribute to those who fell in the Great War.

Following the incident, he said: "I was absolutely astonished to see senseless graffiti scrawled on to the monument itself.

"Clearly those guilty of such a stupid act clearly have no understanding of the sacrifices made by those brave men from the town. Worse still, they perhaps do and simply couldn't care less.

"Either way, the continuous contempt shown by such individuals must stop and I will be urging Fife Council's Safer Communities Team and the local police to once again step up their efforts and patrol this area on a regular basis."

Police subsequently stepped up patrols around the area of the memorial, which has been cleaned, following the vandalism.