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Fire equipment has been stolen from a vehicle during a burglary at a fire station in Ballyclare, County Antrim.

The fire service said several pieces of road traffic collision equipment "critical to our operational response" were taken.

Police said the side door of the premises on Ballynure Road was prised open and the items stolen between 22:00 and 23:00 BST on Sunday.

A fire crew discovered the break-in when they were tasked to a road crash.

One fire vehicle was left out of action for the night, leaving "the community without lifesaving equipment", police said.

Marcus Wright, northern area commander for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said: "These vital pieces of operational equipment are used by Ballyclare firefighters to help rescue casualties from serious road traffic collisions who need released from vehicles urgently.

"I am appealing for these items to be returned to the fire station immediately."

He added: "NIFRS had to utilise other firefighters from the district to cover Ballyclare Fire Station until these items were replaced and the Police Service of Northern Ireland investigated the scene.

"I would like to reassure the local community that contingency arrangements were in place to maintain our full emergency response in the area.

"Arrangements were taken to replace the equipment and repair any damage to the station."

Police have appealed for information.

Inspector Moore said the break-in followed an open day at the station on Saturday, "where visitors and families were able to view the vital equipment used in emergencies".