A THEFT has occurred at a Bridport vaccination clinic for the second time in eight days.

A coronavirus vaccination clinic was disrupted yesterday as a result of fuel being stolen from a tank at the Bridport Medical Centre - sometime between 8pm on Tuesday, March 23 and 7am on Wednesday, March 24.

The clinic was held to provide those aged 80 and above with their second Covid-19 vaccinations, along with administering first vaccinations to those over the age of 50.

The heavy duty lock on the centre's fuel bowser was broken and more than half the fuel inside was stolen.

The bowser supplies fuel for the centre's marquee generator, which is used to keep older patients warm whilst awaiting their appointment. As a result of the theft, the vaccination team had to spend much of the da figuring out how they could keep their elderly patients warm whilst they awaited their appointments.

The vaccination clinics are operated by the Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network (PCN) team - made up of staff from Bridport, Barton House Medical Practice, The Tollerford Practice, Lyme Bay Medical and Dental Practices and Charmouth Medical Practice - along with volunteers from Bridport Coronavirus Community Support.

A spokesperson for Bridport Medical Centre said: "Our diesel thieves returned. The heavy duty lock was broken and this time over half the fuel taken - this is a huge amount of diesel.

"We’ve had to spend time today, during a Covid clinic, working out a plan to continue vaccinating on without relying on the generator.

"This will cost the PCN. We will need to adapt our internal power supply to be able to support the heaters, of which there will now be fewer. And this comes at a time when we move again into the clinically extremely vulnerable cohort. Sad news."

The spokesperson said that, with the exception of the theft, Wednesday's clinic went 'extremely well'.

This comes after thieves raided fuel supplies at the centre prior to a vaccination clinic on Wednesday, March 17 - leaving the vaccinating team unable to keep vulnerable patients warm.

Inspector Darren Stanton, of West Dorset Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It is disappointing to see a facility that is providing a hugely valuable community service as part of the fight against COVID-19 to be targeted in this way.

“I would urge anyone with information about who is responsible, or anybody who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area, to please contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55210046625.

Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.