A lifeboat station has suffered a third-break in during the summer season.

Now, staff have warned that theft of its equipment could hamper the chances of rescuing people in trouble at the beach.

Thieves broke into the beach garage of Ramsgate RNLI last night.

A helmet was stolen and padlocks were also broken, leaving its vital all-terrain vehicle (ATV) vulnerable to further theft from the garage on Ramsgate Main Sands.

Lifeboat workers believe the garage door was pried open with a crowbar.

A member of the public spotted the door up exposing the equipment when they were walking past the beach on Thursday.

Lucy-Jane Macgowan, RNLI lead lifeguard supervisor for the Kent beaches, said: "Our purpose is to save lives at sea and ensure that the public can enjoy the beach in this good weather.

"With our lifeguards going on full-time duty on July 6 in preparation for the summer holidays, it is imperative that we have all of our equipment available and functional in order to be able to act swiftly.

"The ATV allows us to get to incidents with speed. Had something happened to it, it is likely that we would have had to close down the beach.

"With a hot, sunny weekend forecast, we cannot afford for our equipment to be missing or out of action."

The RNLI is requesting for witnesses to contact Kent Police on 101.

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