POLICE are hunting a ram raid gang who used a digger to pull a cashpoint machine out of a wall at a town centre store.

The raid took place just before 2.25am yesterday morning (Friday, May 17) at Lydney Mid Counties Co-Op in Newerne Street.

Police rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised, but despite scrambling the police helicopter the gang made good their escape.

The digger was still outside the store yesterday morning, beside rubble from where the cashpoint had been ripped out, and police and forensic experts were examining the scene.

The stolen cash machine and two vehicles believed to have been used in the raid were found nearby, but it is not clear whether the gang obtained any cash.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said yesterday: “We were called to the Co-Op on Newerne Street in Lydney shortly before 2.25am this morning following reports of a ram raid.

“Two vehicles which are believed to have been involved in the raid were found nearby as well as the stolen cash machine.

“A scene guard is currently in place at the shop whilst forensic enquiries take place.

“No arrests have been made as of yet and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 27 of 17 May.”

Alternatively, they can also anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

One woman who lives close to the store posted that the police helicopter was circling overhead in the middle of the night, and nearby residents had a “sleepless night”.

The store’s cashpoint was previously targeted by a gang in November 2017, who also attacked other cash dispensers at the Huntley General Garage, which they blew up leaving burnt plastic notes on the forecourt, and Monmouth’s Co-Op in a countrywide crime spree that netted more than £1.5m in cash and caused £800,000 worth of damage.

Police later tracked three of the culprits down, who were jailed at Leicester Crown Court for between nine and 12 years in April 2018.