A construction company has lost a whole day of work after its van was vandalised as its wheels were taken within minutes.

Thieves struck at Bauvill Ltd on the Medway City Estate in Strood taking just four minutes to jack the vehicle up and remove four of its wheels.

Logistics manager Sean Mynard said: "I got here at 6am and noticed the back of the van was on bricks and knew what was coming next.

"I went next door and watched their CCTV. You can see them, they were here for four minutes."

He said the footage shows three men getting out of a white transit van at around 10.10pm on Monday and were gone by 10.15pm with the wheels in tow.

Although the firm on Sir Thomas Longley Road has other vans, the targeted vehicle was its main one that is used the majority of the time and can take the bigger loads to building sites.

Driver Barry Hunt said: "It has just ruined the day. It has put us behind in work and I have got no work so I have to go home."

New wheels and tyres have already been bought costing the company just under £1,000 as bosses were left waiting for someone to come and fit them.

Mr Mynard added: "We have not got a delivery driver. We deliver all over Kent and it affects us big time.

"It is hard to put a figure on it but we have lost a day's worth of trade.

"We deliver to our own building sites. It has cost us a lot of money as it has taken us off the roads.

"I do not understand these people. It happens and you have just got to get on with it.

"Why did it have to be this week? We now have to do four days of work in three."

The firm finishes trading on Friday until the New Year so this incident has caused significant delays as it will need to make up for lost time, added Mr Mynard.

It is also not the first time Bauvill Ltd has been targeted.

Last year, its light rack at the back of the same van was also stolen from outside its offices.

Mr Mynard, who said the crime has been reported to police's online reporting portal, said: "Other businesses around here need to be more vigilant. The police need to patrol around here.

"It is alright having cameras but it does not bother them, they do not care."

Police have been contacted for more details.