VANDALS have broken into a Red Cross ambulance - keeping it off the road for up to three weeks during one of its busiest periods of the year.

Staff from the Stourport branch discovered on Sunday, October 20 their only emergency vehicle had had its steering column and ignition damaged and a window broken.

The ambulance is used to provide medical cover at weekend events.

Organiser Steve Archer said the branch has been forced to borrow a replacement from neighbouring groups and labelled the culprits "idiots".

"It was parked in our usual fairly safe parking space in Astley Cross. Nothing appeared to have been stolen other than a two-way radio," he said.

"It looks as though they were looking for drugs, but none of our ambulances carry drugs."

Mr Archer added the timing of the break-in - coinciding with bonfire night - had further stretched resources.

"It makes you stop and think what kind of idiots would break into an ambulance that is there to save people's lives."