Paramedics on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus arrived at work to find holes drilled in the tyres of six ambulances.

The vehicles were taken off the road after the damage was discovered at a vehicle preparation centre in Ramsgate shortly after 7am today.

Ambulances at the centre in Ramsgate were targeted

One paramedic posted on Facebook: "Just when you thought this country couldn't get any worse, someone comes along and drills holes in our ambulance tyres. So we're now all off the road."

The damage comes as Kent's ambulance service says it is under "significant pressure" amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Already one death from the virus has been confirmed in Medway, while patients are fighting the infection at hospitals in Margate and Ashford.

With the number of cases increasing every day, pressure on the healthcare system is expected to rise.

Patients are being treated for coronavirus at the nearby QEQM Hospital in Margate

Janine Compton, a spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service, says most people have been "fantastically supportive" of its staff, but condemned those who targeted the vehicles.

She said: "We can confirm that six of our frontline ambulances were deliberately damaged overnight at our Make Ready Centre in Thanet.

"Our fleet staff have worked tremendously hard this morning to ensure that the impact on our patients was minimal. However, it was additional work at a time we are already under significant pressure.

6 ambulances had their tyres punctured last night. I know MPs are supposed to be polite etc but whoever did this is an utter scroat. Just what goes through the mind of someone who does this, nevermind during a pandemic? Thanks to the team for getting them back on the road ASAP https://t.co/tl5CTPk7wr — Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) March 22, 2020

"It is extremely disappointing that an individual would target the ambulance service in this way, at a time when the vast majority of the public have been fantastically supportive of our staff during these difficult times.

"We urge anyone with any information on this to contact Kent Police."

Police say they are investigating reports of the damage.

Anyone with information should call 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/52297/20.

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