A hospice is without both its minibuses after callous thieves stole the vehicles' catalytic converters.

Volunteers and staff at ellenor arrived at the charity's site in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, yesterday morning to discover they could no longer use the crucial patient transport.

It is estimated the cost of repairs to the vehicles will be £1,000 each.

Volunteer driver Peter Mayes said in his 30 years at ellenor, which cares for those with terminal and life-limiting illnesses, he had never experienced something like this.

The 69-year-old said: "They are generally used to collect patients who are confined to wheelchairs.

"This means the individuals can not travel to the hospice, which is often the only social event they can attend.

"Cars cannot transport those in electric wheelchairs due to size, weight and the inability to transfer them to car seats.

"Both ambulances and private cars are driven by volunteers who give up their time every week.

"They are large and white and have the hospice's name printed on them so are easily recognisable.

"The cost of maintaining the hospice is massive and always growing. What kind of person steals from a hospice and its patients?"

A spokesman for ellenor said: "In the late hours of Tuesday evening, 30 January 2018, vandals removed the catalytic convertors from the exhaust systems of both our minibuses which have rendered the vehicles inoperable. This has meant that a number of patients have been unable to access the hospice’s services and facilities."

Kent Police has been approached for comment.