THIEVES used a JCB to ram-raid a shop in Istead Rise, near Gravesend, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

North Kent Police were called to the Co-op store on the parade in The Droveway shortly after 3am.

It is believed the offenders were attempting to steal a cash machine from the store, but police have said they are still investigating whether the machine or any part of it was actually taken during the raid. The cab of the mechanical digger was set alight and abandoned.

Police sealed off surrounding roads around the parade while investigations continued. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01474 331055.

The ram-raid is the second in Kent this weekend. Thieves smashed their way into the Alldays store in Marden, near Maidstone, on Saturday morning. Police are not currently linking the two incidents.

FULL STORIES IN THIS WEEK'S GRAVESEND MESSENGER AND KENT MESSENGER