A Scots traffic warden has been left devastated after her van was vandalised while she was "simply trying to do her job".
The passenger window of the Highland Council worker's vehicle was smashed while she was parked on Duncan Street in Thurso on Sunday morning.
The employee, who we have not named, took to social media to share pictures of the damage and remind residents that she is "a human being with feeling" following the callous vandalism.
In the images shared on Facebook, the van can be seen parked beside a grassy area near residential flats in the town.
Glass can be seen shattered on the road beside a large concrete slab, which had presumably been used to smash the window.
Another picture taken from inside the vehicle showed smashed glass all over the passenger seat of the van.
The traffic warden admits she knows her job is not popular - but says she was devastated to wake up to find the damage.
She said: "I know the job of a traffic warden is not popular with a lot of people, but it’s just a job - my livelihood - and it’s impossible for me to issue a ticket if someone is [parked] legally.
"But to wake up to find this has been done is terribly upsetting.
"Thurso is our town and it’s getting out of hand."
It's understood the incident was reported to police and the local warden urged residents to contact officers if they saw or heard anything.
Some locals highlighted that the traffic warden may not have been targeted because of her job, with the incident instead being an act of random vandalism.
But she said: "It doesn't matter if it is job related or not - it's criminal damage. I get very nasty comments most days and threatened too.
"This is totally unacceptable for whatever reason.
"People should remember I'm a human with feeling! Maybe they are angry and having a bad day - but what about my day?!
"A few people have messaged me regarding this post saying it's not personal. But a few weeks ago I was standing outside the Pentland Hotel doing an observation on a vehicle parked on DYL at corner - you could not see past it if you were coming down the street at side of big church.
"An accident had happened here several months before because of this same problem.
"My big sister was in the Pentland having lunch with a friend and someone went up to her and said 'tell your sister to p*** off and stop standing out there'.
"Luckily I have the support of my family and my sister told them I was doing my job and to hop it - so it most certainly is personal to involve my family."
Following the incident officers have appealed for information.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 9.10am on Sunday, April 24, police received a report of vandalism to a van on Duncan Street in Thurso.
"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1008 of Sunday, April 24.”
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