The would be thieves left empty handed from their attempted raid on the ATM at the Co-op convenience store on the town’s Main Street in the early hours of Friday morning. Police said they were alerted to the incident at around 2.15am by a report from the public. 

“It is reported a white Transit type van rammed the premises several times causing damage to the front of the shop and the ATM inside,” said detective inspector Will Tate. “At this time, we believe no money was taken during the incident. It is believed the van drove off in the direction of the Edfield Way roundabout.” 

Local Cllr Victor Warrington said the incident had been a crime that impacted many in the aftermath of the destruction on Friday. 

“A lot of people would use the Co-op, and it’s ATM. It is certainly an attack on the community,” he said. 

Cllr Warrington added he hoped the incident would not lead to local businesses removing their cash machines: “To a degree, you would be giving into these individuals and their actions and we don’t want to do that.”

It is not know who alerted police to the ongoing incident, however Cllr Warrington said it may have been workmen would were carrying out road improvements in the area that same night. 

Cllr Warrington also called for more resources to be given to local police.

“The police have to work with what they have, and the bodies are not on the ground,” he said. “We’re such a vast, rural area. We need more police and vehicles on the ground.”