Vandals targeted an emergency response in an early hours raid in Dorchester.

A coastguard emergency response vehicle was parked in Olga Road at around 2am on Friday morning after being deployed in a multi-agency search for a missing person.

Sometime after this, the car’s windows were smashed and equipment stolen from inside the vehicle.

Dorset Police officers are currently investigating the incident.

The coastguard has said the implications of taking a frontline vehicle out of service can cost lives.