POLICE have launched a major investigation after specialist medical equipment went missing from a day surgery centre at Medway Maritime Hospital.

The equipment, which included laparoscopes, cystoscopes, histoscopes and specialist cameras, used for examining internal organs, disappeared from the Sunderland Day Care Centre at some time after 7.30pm on the evening of Wednesday, June 25 and before 6am the next day.

Patients with appointments that day were still seen by doctors and no operations were cancelled, as surgeons were able to use other equipment from a theatre, which was not in use.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "During the night of June 26 valuable surgical equipment, worth over £150,000, was stolen from the Medway Maritime Hospital.

"We are working closely with the local police on this matter and trust that the villains who committed this despicable crime will soon be caught and brought to justice. Extra security measures are now being brought in force as a result of this incident.

He added: "We cannot go into any further details about this matter because we do not wish to jeopardise police inquiries."

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "We can confirm an investigation was carried out by officers who attended the Sunderland Day Care Centre on the morning of Thursday, June 26.

The officer added: "It would be impossible to comment further as the investigation is ongoing and new evidence may still come to light."