A HATE crime investigation has been launched by police after the removal of Pride decorations on the Isle of Arran.

Officers say flags and banners adorning Main Street in Brodick were removed early on Saturday ahead of a planned parade.

Some flags had been torn down and were later found dumped on the beach, according to posts on social media.

Parade organisers said they had been made aware that decorations had been removed by “an unknown group.”

The Pride parade, a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, went ahead as planned on Saturday afternoon.

Police confirmed the incident was being treated as a hate crime and a “positive line of inquiry” was being followed.

Sergeant Clare Neilson of Arran police office said: “We are taking this very seriously and are following positive lines of enquiry.

“If anyone has any information or saw people acting suspiciously, get in touch.

“Anyone with private CCTV or dash-cam footage should check to see if they captured anything.”