A village Co-op store has been severely damaged after ram-raiders targeted the shop.

Two men have been arrested after the front door of the convenience store on the Isle of Grain was staved in and smashed after suspected thieves broke in shortly after 3am.

A clean-up operation has been under way at the shop throughout the morning and it was hoped to open later this evening but the damage means this has been put back.

Police launched an investigation using the police helicopter and sniffer dogs locating two suspects hiding in woodland a few miles from the village.

The helicopter was spotted circling above the village at about 3.30am after a major search operation was carried out.

Several police vehicles were spotted near the Four Elms roundabout in Chattenden at around 4am.

Police dog units were searching woodland and a police BMW X5 patrol car was seen with damage to its front bumper and number plate.

A police spokesman said two men aged in their 30s from the Medway area have been detained and are being held in custody this afternoon.

Police were called at 3.04am after alarms in the store were triggered.

Cigarettes and alcohol were reported stolen from the shelves which led to "a significant amount of damage".

Police spokesman Sally Smith said: "Whilst attending the call a patrol noted a suspicious vehicle and signalled for it to stop.

"Following a pursuit, and assistance from the police helicopter, the patrols began to search a woodland area in Strood.

"A police dog unit and local officers then located two men who were arrested in connection with the incident."

Residents said police had been knocking on doors in the village since the early hours and officers were stationed outside the shop in the High Street first thing this morning.

Villagers have been left in shock and angered by the incident.

A Co-op spokesman said: “We can confirm that a ram raid incident occurred at our Isle of Grain store overnight.

"The police are currently carrying out an investigation and we’re supporting them with this before assessing the store and what was taken in the break in.

"We urge anyone who may have information on the incident to come forward to the police.”

Initially, the spokesman said if the store had not sustained any structural damage, the aim would be to reopen it this evening.

However, they later said: "All we can say at this point is that we’re hoping to reopen on Wednesday but it all depends on how soon the work can be completed, so this may change."

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Medway