HEARTLESS thieves stole a potentially life-saving piece of equipment from a telephone kiosk in Upper Arley.

The defibrillator, which is worth around £1,000, was stored inside a steel case fixed to an old BT telephone box at Shatterford, near the junction with Trimpley Lane, but the box is believed to have been forced open some time between Saturday (July 18) and Monday.

Angela Preece, clerk at Arley Parish Council, which fundraised to buy the equipment, said: "It's an awful thing to pinch, especially when it could be needed to save someone's life.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The equipment was stolen some time between Saturday and MondayThe equipment was stolen some time between Saturday and Monday

"It’s not worth anything but some people will steal them and take it to pieces to sell the batteries.

"People in the community are just really outraged."

The defib was donated to the parish council by Alveley Community First Responders, which said it was called out to a patient in cardiac arrest just an hour after the theft was reported.

The group said there was no record of the equipment having been used, which led them to believe the defib had been stolen.

Alveley Community First Responders posted on Facebook: "We are disappointed and saddened to report that the defibrillator we donated to the Upper Arley community and was housed in the Shatterford phonebox appears to have been stolen.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The defib was funded by donations from parish councillors a few years agoThe defib was funded by donations from parish councillors a few years ago

"West Midlands Ambulance Service have no records of its activation and the box appears to have been forced open.

"This was a vital life saving piece of equipment no longer available."

Mike Nixon, from the group, said neighbouring responders in Highley had offered to donate a defibrillator to Upper Arley until the parish council could fund a permanent replacement.

Anyone with information on the theft is urged to contact police on 101 or Alveley Community First Responders on Facebook.