Life-saving cutting equipment believed to be worth thousands of pounds was taken from a fire station as the crew was responding to reports of a fire.

The theft happened on Monday night at Sheppey Fire Station while firefighters were attending an alleged bin fire in Royal Road, Sheerness, at 8.20pm, which turned out to be a false alarm.

When they arrived at the scene near the Healthy Living Centre, less than a mile away, they found nothing alight.

They returned to the station in the High Street to find equipment thought to be worth around £8,000 had been taken. They had been gone a matter of minutes.

The theft has appalled Island MP Derek Wyatt (Lab) who described it as a “despicable act”.

For full story see this week's Times Guardian