DETECTIVES have charged a man in connection with a ram-raid at the HSBC Bank in the shopping precinct in Rainham on Sunday when a ATM machine was stolen.

He is Stephen John Hall, 43, from the village of Wouldham, near Rochester. He has been charged with burglary.

Two other men, one aged 36 from the Medway area and the other aged 41 from Maidstone, have been bailed by police until April 6.

The cash machine contained £90,000. The raid happened at about 4.30am on Sunday.

Detectives have appealed to the public for help regarding the movements of a JCB used in the raid and then abandoned at the scene.

It was stolen sometime on Saturday, March 4 from a construction site on the A228 at Hoo, near Strood.

Det Insp Gary Smith said: “The JCB is a typical yellow machine but has the word KEEVY in black block capital letters on the rear hydraulic arm.

“We believe that sometime on Saturday it was moved and stored closer to the intended target, possibly via the Medway Tunnel and Pier Road, which would be the quickest route between Hoo and Rainham.

"Anyone who can help us to find out where it was taken to or thinks that they saw a JCB on the move between Hoo and Rainham on Saturday should call Kent Police in Medway on 01634 884252 or call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

In addition to the JCB, police recovered the cash machine, complete with its contents, and a flatbed truck from a location in Newington, near Sittingbourne.