A PETITION against the “disgraceful treatment” of Scottish royal resting places in Dunfermline Abbey has been signed by nearly 2,000 people.

West Fife historian Sheila Pitcairn is furious that not enough has been done to flag up the burial sites of former monarchs in the town.

Now, she's calling for “dignified markers” to honour the royals buried in the abbey nave, also known as “Little Westminster”.

Buried within the walls are six Scottish kings, two queens and three princes, including Alexander I, David I, Malcolm IV, Queen (Saint) Margaret and Queen Sybilla.

The lack of identifying features has been a sticking point for Mrs Pitcairn for decades and she is now petitioning the Scottish Parliament to mark the “Royal Sepulture of Scotland”.

Mrs Pitcairn, the former honorary chair of Abbot House, told the Press: “I've been out on the streets doing petitions at galas and the St Margaret's Pilgrimage and I've found that most people don't know these royals are buried in the nave.

“Nobody has refused to sign the petition. Some of the comments I hear are: 'Why are the children not told this? Why do we not know this?'

“We have Robert the Bruce but what about the others? There's nothing there to tell people about these royals and yet this is Dunfermline and Scotland's heritage.”

Mrs Pitcairn, who wrote 'A History of the Old Fitpaths and Streets of Dunfermline', added: “Dunfermline has been sort of forgotten and it's very disheartening – it's all about money and for years, everything's been centred around Edinburgh, Stirling and St Andrews and golf.

“The abbey is the jewel in the crown of Dunfermline – every street at one time used to lead to it.

“Westminster is where all the royals are buried; in Scotland, it was Dunfermline.

“It's shocking in terms of the neglect in the nave. Why are people coming to Dunfermline to be told nothing?

“It's an insult to the people of Scotland that there is no recognition. It's all ancient history but it's Dunfermline and Scotland's history.”

She hopes the petition will raise further awareness but said the focus was now to petition Holyrood and “get something done”.

She continued: “It will be up to the people of Dunfermline to decide what they want to see there but that's Plan B. The important thing now is to get something to the Scottish Parliament.

“I don't care how long it takes, I feel justice has to be served. Dunfermline has to be recognised as a place worth coming to to visit to know your history.”

For more information, search Royal Tombs Dunfermline on Facebook. The link to the petition, on change.org, can be found at www.royaltombsdunfermline.co.uk.