Callous vandals who targeted a defibrillator in Ditton over the weekend have put lives at risk, a councillor has said.

The lifesaving equipment in a former phone box in Woodlands Road was damaged between 10pm on Saturday night and early in the morning of the following day.

Installed in August after a joint effort by Tracey Crouch MP, county councillor Peter Homewood and borough councillor Ben Walker, the vandalism has prompted anger and disappointment.

Cllr Walker, said: "It is very sad news - lots of money, time & effort was invested into the Defibrillator on Woodlands Road, Ditton, with the aim of making our community a safer and better place to live.

"This callous act of vandalism endangers the lives that the defibrillator is there to save. The defibrillator will now be temporarily out of use.

"We have informed Police Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact Kent Police."

Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, has long campaigned to get defibrillators installed in every part of her constituency.

She said: "It is extremely disappointing that I and others have spent a long time getting publicly accessible life-saving defibrillators into communities only for some mindless vandalism to render the one in Ditton unavailable.

"The sad thing is that the people who did this have no idea that it might be them or a member of their family who could be the ones who need it”.

A police spokesman, said: "Kent Police has received a report of criminal damage taking place inside a phone box in Woodlands, Road, Ditton, between 10pm on January 28 and 3am on January 29.

A cabinet, which contained a defibrillator, is reported to have been damaged. At present no arrests have been made."

If anyone has information that can assist police, they are asked to call 01622 604100 quoting YY/2517/17. Alternatively, contact Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.