Town sees red over 'religious' green-light vandalism

Authorities in a west of Scotland town have been forced to take drastic measures to stop green traffic lights being vandalised, the Herald newspaper said on Friday, suggesting religion was to blame.

The municipal council has put protective wire grilles over every green light in Larkhall, near Glasgow, because vandals have smashed 205 lights and caused £17,000 worth of damage since 2004.

The newspaper suggested pro-British Protestants youths who favour the red, white and blue of the Union flag were to blame as they objected to the green that is part of Catholic Ireland's orange, white and green tricolour..



Western Scotland has long had a reputation for sectarianism, with well-known rivalry between the Glasgow football clubs of Rangers and Celtic that has often erupted in violence between fans.

One pharmacy was also said to have changed its green-and-white signs to red, white and blue because customers stayed away.

David Wynn, from South Lanarkshire Council, said the local authority had no comment to make on the "sectarianism vandalism" claims.