A breast screening clinic has been vandalised, with red hand prints on the walls and footmarks left on doors.

Swanley Town Council is now appealing for witnesses after discovering the damage on January 1.

Pictures show red hand prints on the walls and a dirty foot mark on a door.

A Facebook post read: "Did you see anyone cause this damage to the Breast Screening Clinic?

"The town council pleaded and worked hard to secure this unit for Swanley and incidents like this make it even more unlikely that they will return. If you saw anything please do message us."

The clinic, located in the town council’s car park in St Mary's Road, had been removed last year forcing women to travel all the way to Bluewater - the nearest centre from Swanley.

Ryan Hayman, Swanley Town Council chief executive officer, said: " A group of three males attacked the unit and splattered handprints all over the side of the facility and over the Civic Centre’s windows and doors.

"This has been reported to police and we supplied CCTV showing the incident unfolding."

He added: "Incidents like this can hinder us from being able to attract and keep these facilities within the town. It is important that this facility is used while we have it, and that is respected by all in our society. The potential knock-on effect to residents is that we lose services that are vital to a healthy community."

Last October, Laura Trott MP celebrated the return of the clinic to town from November 23 following a successful campaign.

She said: "As many of you will recall, in the summer I raised with the Chief Executive of the Medway NHS Foundation Trust, my concerns that the breast screening service in Swanley had been removed, with local women being asked to travel to Bluewater.

"It was unacceptable for such a lifesaving service to be moved in this way and I was determined that a suitable venue in Swanley must be found.

"The county, town and district councils, alongside local councillors worked with the trust to find a location and I am delighted to confirm that the mobile breast screening facility will be available again in the town from November 23.

"Please note this is a provisional date, and please (if you can) visit Bluewater should you be offered a sooner appointment – I would hate anyone to delay a visit unless they have to.

"My sincere thanks to the town council for making the space available. As ever, by working together we can achieve results."

A spokesperson for Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is extremely disappointing that this essential service for patients has been vandalised and it has been reported to Kent Police.

“All services from the clinic continue to run as normal and we are working with Swanley Town Council to try to prevent any vandalism in the future.”