A police car has been taken out of action after thugs smashed in its back window.

The incident happened on Sunday evening when officers left it unattended to respond to a job and means the vehicle can no longer be used as a 999 response vehicle until it has been fixed.

A member of Southend's local policing team shared the image on social media.

They said: "Sadly someone felt it necessary to damage one of Southend LPT response vehicles whilst left unattended.

"The vehicle now can't be used to respond to emergencies until necessary repairs are carried out."

"It's the tax payers who are out of pocket when our emergency vehicles are damaged.

"Our vehicles service the whole community of Southend or further afield. When one is taken off the road due to be damaged it is the community that it services that suffers."

Anyone with information should contact Southend police on 101.