A cashpoint has been stolen during an early morning raid.

Thieves made off with the cash machine outside Lloyds TSB, at the top of Cripple Street, in Loose, at about 3.30am on Saturday .

An excavator, taken from a building site behind Loose fire station, was seen being driven into the wall of the bank.

Police say the machine was quickly loaded onto a blue pick-up truck style vehicle that made off along Cripple Street towards Farleigh Hill. The excavator was left at the scene.

No-one was hurt in the incident and no weapons were used.

The blue pick-up has since been located on a track near Collier Street in Claygate, near Marden.

A member of staff at Lucky’s newsagents, opposite the targeted bank, said: "It is a mess. The people (offenders) have taken it all, completely. "

Det Sgt Shelley Chantler said: "Members of the public may have been in the area when the theft happened and witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it.

"We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have seen or heard anything in the early hours of this morning, in particular if vehicles were seen arriving in or leaving the area."

Police are also appealing for witnesses in the area where the pick-up was abandoned.

Cripple Street remains closed and a cordon is in place to allow for a forensic search in daylight.

Anyone with information can contact Kent Police on 01622 604283 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.