Vandals attack shops on street that inspired Harry Potter's Diagon Alley
At least ten shops in Victoria Street were spray painted with graffiti over the weekend.
The winding cobbled street is lined with the colourful storefronts of many independent shops and is said to be one of the most photographed in Scotland.
At least ten shops in Victoria Street were damaged by vandals
ANDREW MCRAE
Andrew McRae, a shop owner, said the city was being 'wrecked with impunity' and called for more action to be taken. Among the three businesses he owns on the street is Museum Context, which sells Harry Potter merchandise.
• Tourist tax could pay for removing graffiti in Edinburgh
He told the BBC: 'I've been doing business in the Old Town for a number of years and I've never seen anything on this kind of scale before with one street being so badly targeted and damaged.
Andrew McRae said action needed to be taken to protect the city from vandals
'Victoria Street is one of the most picturesque and beautiful streets in the city if not Scotland and a great deal of time and effort is spent by the independent business owners to keep it in that condition.
'So to come in to work and see this trail of destruction — I was very shocked and it was very demoralising. It seems to me there are no consequences or there is no sense that people will be held accountable for what they are doing.'
• Spread of graffiti 'threatens Edinburgh's heritage status'
The City of Edinburgh council's transport and environment convener, Stephen Jenkinson, said: 'First and foremost, defacing any building with graffiti is a criminal offence and I'd encourage anyone with any information on the culprits to contact the police.
'This type of mindless behaviour damages the local environment for everyone, whether they be residents or visitors, and wastes time and money on removing it.
Daniel Radcliffe and Robbie Coltrane in Diagon Alley in a scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Victoria Street has been cited as an inspiration for the alley
'We've invested in a dedicated graffiti team who will be happy to offer advice to private owners on how best to deal with it and, if requested, to remove it — on a cost recovery basis.'
Police Scotland said it was investigating the vandalism.
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