Deer from billionaire's estate are invading Highland village again, claim locals
Deer from billionaire theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh's Highland estate are said to be threatening nearby villagers, including children in a play park.
Locals claim that the animals have now invaded the kids' play area in Mallaig, in Inverness-shire - where the impresario owns his sprawling estate - posing 'a danger and a health risk'.
And one of the problems seems to be people feeding the creatures, luring them in.
Sir Cameron's Nevis Estate promised to act over the latest incursion and stressed it had carried out a successful programme of culling in recent years to reduce the numbers.
But minutes of a Mallaig Community Council meeting noted: 'Concerns have been raised that deer have been getting too close to the village - they have been in the children's play park - and represent a danger and a health risk.
'It is thought that the deer are being fed inappropriately, and this may be increasing the draw of the village.'
Previously people complained that they have been 'cornered' by stags in 'dangerous and scary' situations.
The Scottish Government wildlife agency NatureScot previously ordered a cull on the impresario's estate to reduce numbers.
But the community council says it is once again contacting Nevis Estate and Nature Scot.
Mallaig Community Council say its is contacting the estate and Nature Scot.
Andrew Aitchison, factor for Sir Cameron's estates, said that people feeding the deer could be part of the current problem.
'It is not something we encourage but it's incredibly difficult to discourage,' he said.
'We will be talking to the community council.
'Over the last two seasons concerted efforts have been made to deal with the deer in the village and it has been successful.'
He added that deer in villages is not an isolated problem in the Highlands.
There are around 300 deer on the estate - and residents have previously estimated that up to 40 were regularly roaming around Mallaig.
Sir Cameron has owned his estate in the port town for more than 25 years after falling in love with the area during a family holiday aged six.
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