A cash machine has been stolen in a ram raid outside a supermarket in Ashford.

Police officers are investigating after the raid to the rear of the Waitrose store in Sir Bernard Paget Avenue, Repton Park, at around 2.40am this morning.

The supermarket is on the outskirts of Ashford, close to the M20 motorway.

Thieves appear to have smashed down a fence before driving a digger across the car park and ripping the free-standing ATM out the ground.

The digger was left abandoned at the scene. It is not yet known how much money is missing.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "At this stage, it's not known how much was taken.

"Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to call with information."

Witnesses can call Kent Police's new non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For more dramatic pictures of the ram raid, pick up a copy of this week's Kentish Express, out tomorrow.