SCOTLAND’S mobile cinema has hit out after finding its interior had been damaged following a screening.

The Screen Machine was on the inner Hebridean island of Colonsay when it reported a customer had “spent part of their visit damaging the wall next to their seat”.

An image shared by the cinema showed that material on the wall next to one of the seats had been picked off and left on the floor.

Writing on Facebook, the Screen Machine said staff had been “shocked” to find the damage.

“We love bringing films to all of our communities, but we expect our cinema and auditorium to be respected,” they wrote.

“Prior to our next screenings, in Port Ellen, our operator will put the time and money into repairing it.”

Hundreds reacted to the news with anger and surprise, with one person commenting: “What is wrong with people. We are so lucky to have this service and then people treat it with such a lack of respect.”

Another wrote: “That’s absolutely disgraceful, why do people do such things as this. They do not deserve the opportunity to watch films in the Screen Machine again.

“I hope you can find the culprit and ban them for the rest of their lives.”

A third added: “I'm sorry someone has been so disrespectful, the Screen Machine is a wonderful service and almost all of us treasure it.”

Others asked if there might be a way to identify the culprit through a wider appeal highlighting exactly where inside the mobile cinema the damage was done.

The 80-seat Screen Machine tours Scotland’s Highland and Island communities, giving people who live far from a static cinema the opportunity to see the latest film releases.

In the coming weeks it is due to stop in Port Ellon, Fort Augustus, Ullapool, Lochinver, and Kinlochbervie.