Life-saving equipment has been stolen from a Medway football club in the latest in a spate of similar thefts.

The £3,000 defibrillator, used for people who suffer a cardiac arrest, was snatched from Chatham Town’s ground.

Chatham MP and Sports Minister Tracey Crouch launched a campaign last year to get devices installed across her constituency.

She said: “I am very disappointed to hear about this.

"It can only be mindless idiots who take a device that has been put there to save people’s lives.”

The use of CPR and a defibrillator within three minutes of a cardiac arrest improves chances of survival from 5% to 75%.

The defibrillator at Chatham Town was funded by Miss Crouch’s former assistant Georgina Nicolettos, who raised the money by running the London Marathon.

Medway Council's Labour group leader Vince Maple also contributed some of his ward cash to pay for the box.

Cllr Maple said: “It is quite shocking that a piece of equipment that has been put there to assist people who are most vulnerable when they have had a cardiac arrest has been stolen.”

A police spokesman said: “We are is investigating a theft of a defibrillator from a building in Bournville Avenue, Chatham between 4pm and 6.30pm on Monday, July 31."

At the end of last month medical equipment and drugs were stolen from Sheppey Ambulance Station.

SECAmb’s executive director of operations, Joe Garcia said: “Lives have once again been put at risk as a result of this incident.

"We would urge anyone with information whatsoever to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01634 792209, quoting reference XY/038250/17.