A memorial in Northern Ireland dedicated to three Scottish soldiers who were murdered 44 years ago has been attacked by vandals.

The monument in north Belfast to teenage brothers John and Joseph McCaig from Ayr and their colleague Dougald McCaughey, 23, from Glasgow, had paint thrown over it.

The paint attack happened some time on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Two memorials were erected in nearby locations in the city in 2010 with cash raised by the Royal British Legion in memory of the young soldiers.

A small memorial, which has been targeted dozens of times, was placed at the spot where they were shot in 1971 and a second larger memorial was placed on its own piece of land nearby in Ballysillan.

This is the first time the large memorial has been targeted by vandals.

Lord mayor of Belfast Brian Kingston said he was "absolutely disgusted" to hear of the incident and branded it a "depraved and sickening act".

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed they are investigating the incident.