Life-saving medical equipment has been stolen from a charity which supports the emergency services.

Thieves took a number of items, including two luminous green rucksacks containing defibrillators, from Lothian 4x4 Response's premises on Tailend Court in Livingston, on Wednesday evening.

The so-called "heart-start" machines, which have "AED" marked on them, are worth around £1000 each.

Lothian 4x4 Response helps emergency services with logistics in extreme conditions and tries to support the area's transport services when other arrangements fall through.

Jonathan Hutchinson, chairman of the trustees at the charity, said: "The HQ is in a industrial park but it's quite isolated and they have just broken a window at the back and taken what suited them.

"It's a major expense - we spent a lot of time raising funds for them. We are not for profit - we work totally from donations."

Mr Hutchinson added: "We keep the defibrillators in places where they are most likely to be used, ready for emergencies. These are now services we can't provide."

Inspector Adam Smith, of Livingston Police Station, said: "A defibrillator is obviously a vital item for the charity to have access to, but they're also expensive to replace.

"The bags they're contained in are quite unique, and if anyone saw someone carrying them in the area around that time, please get in touch.

"Equally, if anyone remembers seeing any suspicious behaviour, let us know."

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.