Old walkie-talkie-style radios used to alert businesses of anti-social behaviour in town centres have been revamped and shipped thousands of miles away to soldiers in Ukraine.

Frontline fighters are now armed with two-way communication handsets in their war against Russia thanks to the donation from the Safer Medway Partnership.

The non-profit crime-fighting organisation, which now operates across the five Medway towns, has recently upgraded its radios from analogue to digital.

It meant the old radios were worthless on the open market in the UK, but have become a useful resource to the Ukrainian army.

John Brice, manager of Safer Medway Partnership, said: “‘We are delighted to be able to give something that has no value to us, to be so important to the freedom fighters.

‘“We were able to upgrade our collection of radios which are used by our members to help stop shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

“‘We had cash grants from the government, the Kent Crime Commissioner and Medway Council which allowed us to improve our communication systems which made our old ones redundant.

“‘Our technical partners – Smye-Rumsby based in Dover – cleaned, repaired and made them perfect for the Ukraine army. They also raised cash to be able to send them to the frontline.

‘“The teamwork by everyone has been impressive and now it’s great to know that these tools are being used for a good cause.’.

SMP was set up in 2006, initially in Rochester, to combat crime prompted by the increased night-time economy.

It now operates from Strood to Rainham working with the police and Medway Council’s CCTV system.