A village newsagent has told how a masked gang smashed their way into his shop and made off with a cash machine from inside the store.

Dollar Patel said neighbours alerted the police to the raid in Clacton Road, St Osyth, early today. They woke to the sound of the thieves smashing the door with a sledge hammer.

"The men then tied a tow rope to the machine and broke the security housing around it," added Mr Patel.

"They then managed to yank the machine out of the shop. They left the vehicle they used with the engine still running in the road and made off in another car."

A spokesman for Clacton police said that an Isuzu 4x4 was used to get the cash machine out of the building just before 1am.

Anyone who saw the raiders making off from the scene is asked to contact Clacton police on 01255 221312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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Published Thursday, January 20, 2005

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