RAM-RAIDERS drove a pick-up truck into a village post office in a failed bid to snatch a safe on the premises.

They demolished a wall in the incident which happened between 5am and 5.11am on Thursday at the post office in The Street, Bredgar, near Sittingbourne.

Police say that a white Nissan pick-up truck was driven into the building and left at the scene.

At 5.18am, a police car searching for the suspects was involved in an accident with a dark-coloured D-registration Range Rover. One of the officers in the car suffered whiplash injuries and was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital.

The Range Rover failed to stop after the collision and police are not ruling out the possibility that it was linked to the burglary.

Sgt Gary Scarfe said: "We believe that three vehicles were involved in this incident, the pick-up truck, the Range Rover and a dark saloon car. We have seized the pick-up truck and are carrying out a forensic examination.

"Enquiries have led us to believe that the three vehicles may be linked to suspicious vehicles seen in the Ashford area prior to the burglary."

Postmaster Kevin Ryan said: "The ram-raiders were after the safe but could not get it. They had put straps around it but could not remove it. There was a similar attempted ram raid four years ago when the chassis of a 12-ton truck broke as it tried to pull the safe out.

"I don't believe anything has been stolen this time but it will cost thousands of pounds to rebuild the wall and counter. The building has wooden cladding over breeze blocks and there is now a gaping hole.

"The post office security system alerted me to the alarm going off and the pick up truck was still there with its engine running and lights on when I arrived."

The post office is within Bredgar Farm Stores which was still trading normally in the pre-Christmas rush while police carried out investigations.

One of the first on the scene looking at the damage was Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt who lives nearby in Rodmersham.

He said: "I often use the farm stores and it's such a shame that the post office has been targeted."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 01785 584190 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.