Police are appealing for witnesses after a cash machine was stolen from outside a petrol station, forcing a delayed start at a nearby school.

Officers were called after a free standing ATM was stolen from outside the BP garage in Rye Road, Hawkhurst, at around 1.20am on Wednesday.

Thieves in a Land Rover Defender with a white roof are believed to have used a chain to pull it from its position and then drag it along the road towards Sussex.

Patrols searching the area found some debris in Water Lane that is suspected to be part of the cash machine.

It was not yet known how much money had been taken in the theft but the store is still open for business as usual.

Officers shut off access to Water Lane during the morning, which in turn forced the temporary closure of the independent Saint Ronan’s School.

A statement on the school website said: “In the early hours of the morning, the ATM at the BP station in Hawkhurst was stolen, towed down Water Lane and dumped (now less its cash) in one of our fields.

"The police closed the lane to preserve the crime scene and their forensic teams were on the scene by 9.30am collecting evidence from the debris.

"We’re now back to some sort of normality with school starting at 11am.

"The boarders were delighted to have been able to play tennis and have a swim after breakfast."

District Commander, Chief Inspector Ray Quiller said: “While our investigators are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry, we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area or saw the vehicle travelling into Hawkhurst or leaving along Rye Road and driving in the vicinity of Water Lane.”

Anyone who has information or who has CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 1-0147.

Alternatively, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555111.

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