Youths have been caught vandalising the roof of a GP surgery in a string of attacks.

The group of around eight boys were seen climbing onto St Gregory's Medical Practice, in Gravesend, on Monday night by neighbours and twice on Tuesday afternoon.

Staff were alerted to the incident at the doctor's in St Gregory's Crescent, near Valley Drive, on Tuesday at around 4.50pm.

They reported hearing banging and the roof started to shake.

Business manager at the practice Jason Bowler said: "They came out to see what was going on and there was around eight young lads on top of the building.

"They were smashing tiles up there and running around over the place. Our staff was calling at them to get down and eventually they did but they were not really bothered.

"The girls were quite shaken by it. They called the police and while on the phone heard them up there again.

"The kids came down again and were looking into the surgery to see what reaction they got."

The practice was open at the time with both patients and staff inside but made the decision to shut for safety reasons after the roof was "significantly damaged".

"They were a danger to our staff and patients and to themselves," Mr Bowler added. "The incident has left quite a few people feeling nervous and our staff felt intimidated.

"We are just wanting to do our jobs and not deal with things like this. It is terrible our staff feel threatened in their own community."

The surgery, which also has another site in Pelham Road, Gravesend, reopened the following day and has not been targeted since.

Senior partner Dr Manpinder Sahota added: "The problem is, they can just come back and there is not anything we can do about it."

The surgery said it would be forced close to ensure the safety of both patients and staff if it were to happen again.

Significant damage has been caused to the roof and the cost of repairs is not yet known.

Police were called following the incident and Mr Bowler was told a community officer would be patrolling the area.

A spokesman for the force confirmed it was called at around 5pm on Tuesday, March 14, to a report of several young people causing damage to the roof.

They added: "Officers attended and carried out a search of the area but the suspects were not identified.

"CCTV images are currently being reviewed as part of an investigation."

Anyone with information, including witnesses and nearby residents who may have doorbell camera footage, should contact the north Kent appeal line on 01474 366149, quoting reference 46/47435/23.