AN ARSONIST broke into an ambulance at Oxford railway station stole a bag of medical equipment and drugs then set light to it.

British Transport police are seeking witnesses after the ambulance, parked near the station’s short-stay car park at the rear, was broken into about 2.30am yesterday.

Sgt Adrian Naylor, officer in charge at Oxford BTP, said someone broke into the back and took a primary response bag full of medical supplies.

At 3am, police searched the area and recovered the bag which had been set alight and its contents destroyed.

Sgt Naylor added: “We are treating this incident very seriously. Ultimately the ones who suffer at the hands of this opportunist thief are those who rely on the ambulance service and its vital medical equipment.”

South Central Ambulance spokesman Gill Hodgetts said the bag taken contained drugs and resuscitation equipment and would cost £500 to replace.

Alan Weir, emergency services manager for Oxfordshire at the ambulance service, added: “We deplore this act of mindless vandalism which caused considerable damage to the vehicle.”

Anyone with information should call British Transport Police on 0800 405040.