Highland Games chiefs are fuming after a vandal chopped a 10ft section out of their historic tug-o-war rope. 

The sturdy rope has been used at the Kenmore Highland Games in Perthshire for decades, but was recently cut to bits. 

Games organisers said they spotted a man sawing through it with a pen knife in the outdoor area where it was being stored. 

When challenged, he allegedly said he thought the rope had been dumped as rubbish. 

But organisers now fear that the remaining rope will be too short to be used at the event on July 6. 

Secretary Sarah Kelly said: "I think it's a disgrace that somebody would look at the rope and think it's rubbish. 

"I don't think they realise that it was an important piece of equipment. 

"We think the rope is about 44 years old. It's been here as long as we can remember. 

"What they've done is a disgrace." 

The games also lost their traditional throwing hammer when it was stolen a few weeks ago. 

But a number of kind-hearted games fans have been in touch with organisers and have pledged to help them get a new rope in time for the games.