VANDALS poured pink and white paint over a police car while it was parked up overnight.

Officers were called to Prentice Close, Rochford, in the early hours of Sunday morning and left the car unattended while they spoke to residents in the street.

Just hours later the police were called with reports vandals has thrown paint over the front of the car, covering its bonnet, windscreen and wing mirrors.

Sgt Victoria Jarvis, who works with the community policing team, said: "This vandalism costs the public as Essex Police have a vehicle off the road and it also prevents officers getting to those in need when we do not have vehicles to get to them.

"We only have very limited cars and it will have an effect, but obviously we will do our upmost to carry on responding to emergencies in Rochford.

"The car has now been recovered and taken to our workshop for repairs.

"We have got absolutely no CCTV footage or descriptions of the suspects so we would be keen to hear from anyone who has information."

Jo Mcpherson, a Rochford councillor and vice chairman of the community safety partnership, said: "It's awful that the actions of just one or two people might affect our community.

"I will certainly take this up with the police because we don't want our residents to suffer and have a lack of a police presence due to this vandalism, which was the responsibility of a small minority.

"I saw a picture of the police car on social media and just thought it was a hoax.

"It's such a shame and I will do my upmost to make sure that the residents of Rochford are not losing out.

"Hopefully the police will be able to bring in some kind of measure to get enough resources so that one police car down won't matter too much."

When asked by the Echo, Essex Police refused to reveal why officers were called to Prentice Close in the first place.

Anyone with information about the vandalism can contact the community policing team at Rayleigh on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.