A ram-raid on a store has become the fifth attack on rural businesses in a fortnight.

Raiders reversed a red Ford Ka into the shop door in New Romney High Street and stole a large quantity of cigarettes.

It happened between 2.35 and 2.42am last Thursday and the car had been stolen in Ashford in the early hours of Sunday, January 8.

Det Insp Mark Weller said police were linking all five crimes and urged people to remain vigilant. In all cases cigarettes and/or alcohol have been stolen.

He said officers had been out speaking to owners of rural businesses to make them aware of the burglaries and to offer crime prevention advice.

The first place targeted was the Murco garage in Dymchurch at 4am on Tuesday, January 4.

Thieves removed panels of reinforced glass, broke into a cigarette locker and stole a large quantity of tobacco and cigarettes.

The Pennypot newsagent in Martello Drive, Hythe, was burgled in the early hours of Thursday, January 5. The glass panel of a door was removed and cigarettes worth several thousand pounds were taken.

The Stubbs Cross post office in Tally Ho Road, Ashford, was broken into at about 1.20am on Friday, January 6. Shopkeeper Colin Priestley said raiders smashed through the door with sledge hammers and stole £3,000 worth of cigarettes.

Hours later thieves broke into a shop in Rolvenden taking £150 worth of whisky and beer after a car, believe to be a small silver hatchback, was reversed into the front door.

DI Weller said: "We believe that the offenders used the silver hatchback to commit the burglaries in Tally Ho Road and Rolvenden."

Anyone with information should telephone Kent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime number ZY/509/12.