An investigation has been launched after specialist defibrillators and other medical equipment worthmore than £30,000 were stolen during a raid.

Thieves targeted six ambulances at South East Coast Ambulance Service's Make Ready Centre in Hastings over the weekend.

Two Lifepak 15 machines worth more than £10,000 each were taken during the break in.

The vital machines are used by ambulance crews to restart a patient's heart when they have gone into cardiac arrest.

Two suction packs and a drill kit used for putting medicine and fluid straight into a patient's bone were also taken.

The incident follows similar thefts from the ambulance service in Kent and Surrey in recent weeks.

The ambulance trust says while every effort has been made to repair and re-stock vehicles as soon as possible, the incidents have an obvious impact on its ability to respond to patients.

Associate director of operations Sue Skelton said: “The theft of this equipment puts lives at risk and each incident places even greater pressure on our already stretched resources.

"We are working closely police on these incidents and would urge anyone with any information whatsoever to come forward. It appears that these incidents are part of a targeted campaign against our vehicles and premises.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101.