Newsagents have been left devastated after ram-raiders stoved in their shop front with a car and fled with thousands of pounds of cigarettes.

Richard and Anne Manuel were returning from a meal when they noticed police swarming around St. Stephens News in Canterbury, which they have owned for 40 years.

Just moments before, a trio had used a white vehicle to smash into their beloved store before filling sacks with cigarettes worth £7,000, grabbing cash, and then fleeing.

They were captured on CCTV reversing into the St Stephen’s Road shop causing structural damage to the entryway on Saturday, October 28 at about 11pm.

Owner Richard Manuel, 64, said: “We were returning from a meal at a friend's house on Saturday night and when we drove past the shop we saw all the police cars outside with blue flashing lights.

“We were obviously concerned so we pulled up and introduced ourselves as the proprietors and we could see immediately that all of the front of the shop had been stoved in by a car.

“Police stayed at the shop all night but they sent us home because they said there was nothing more we could do.

“They arranged for it to be secured because it's too dangerous for anybody to go near the front of the shop due to the glass and broken timbers.

“We were just in total disbelief at the beginning, we couldn't believe that someone had done this.”

He continued: “We’re only a small outlet. I don’t think they realise the damage they cause because it has stopped us trading now because we can’t allow customers to come through the door because it's not safe.

“My wife and I have been running the store for nearly 40 years and we’ve never had anything like this before. We’re nearing retirement now so it's quite upsetting that we’re ending our years at the newsagents with an event like this.”

A clean up operation is currently underway but due to the level of damage to the frontage it will have to be completely replaced.

The owners estimate that the newsagent will be closed for at least two weeks for repairs.

Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

In addition to the tobacco, cash was also snatched.

Mr Manuel first began working at St. Stephens News as a paperboy in 1976 before purchasing the business in 1985.

Now he wants to reassure his long term customers that the shop will be back in business soon and thank them for the many messages of support.

He said: “It’s keeping us going having all these good wishes sent to us. It’s really been so lovely that all of our customers have been sending messages saying how sad they were to hear what's happened.

“I know I’m closed for the time being but we have so many local customers who come and use the shop so we’ll be back open soon and won’t let these people grind us down.”

A police spokesman said: “We received a report that a white car was deliberately reversed into the entrance of the commercial premises in St Stephen’s Road during the evening of Saturday 28 October 2023.

“The shop had been closed when the incident took place and officers were called to the scene at around 11pm.”

Police are requesting anyone with information, or who may have seen anything suspicious, to get in touch on 01843 222289, quoting the reference 46/192811/23.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or by using the online form on their website.