Detectives are appealing for thieves to return five laptop computers which were stolen from Monklands District General Hospital.

The machines - valued at more than �15,000 - contained what the hospital described as vital statistical information on clinical trials involving heart and cancer patients.

A spokeswoman stressed that no patient medical records were on the machines and said no-one was in any danger.

But she added that a significant amount of work would be required to restore the data.

The weekend incident follows the theft of two computers containing vital information on patients' heart defibulators from Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Essential information

The devices were taken from the hospital's ECG department last month.

A spokesman for Glasgow Royal Infirmary said that the software on the computers was unique and contained essential information on defibrillator implants.

Defibrillator boxes deliver several hundred volts of electric shock to restart a patient's heart.

They cost �20,000 each, weigh half a pound and take a major operation to install.

The lifesaving machines cannot function properly without the laptops and the software they contain.

It was thought that only a small number of patients would be affected.