Investigations are continuing in to a series of ram raids which saw cash machines ripped from the wall at village shops.

Derbyshire police said no arrests have been made as they continue to investigate the raid at the Nisa store, in Hatton, on Thursday, August 3. It is being linked with similar attempt at the Co-op in Kings Bromley only the day before, which Staffordshire Police said there are currently no updates on.

In both of the raids agricultural machines, which had been stolen from surrounding villages, were used. The telescopic handling machines, which have long arms capable of lifting heavy loads, were then abandoned at the scenes.

The first raid happened at the Co-op in Lichfield Road, Kings Bromley, on Wednesday, August 2, when a masked gang was unsuccessful in taking the ATM machine after they were disturbed by officers.

Ram-raid on the cash point at the Nisa Store on Station Road, Hatton, using a telescopic handler.

The JCB machine, which was stolen from a farm in Netherseal in Derbyshire, was left wedged in the side of the building and the gang ran off to waiting vehicles.

Police said they received the call at 3.10am and anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 60 of August 2.

Officers from Derbyshire police were then called to the Nisa store at 2.30am on Thursday, August 3, by residents who saw a vehicle, which had a telescopic arm, dragging a cash machine from the wall.

The thieves put the machine in a trailer being pulled by a 4x4 vehicle before driving off, accompanied by a car.

Police said that officers were sent to the scene immediately and when they arrived one thief threw a metal bar at officers before they fled in vehicles. The telescopic handler was left at the scene. Officers have CCTV footage from the incident.

JCB digger in the side of the Co-op in Kings Bromley

Witnesses or anyone with information or CCTV footage is asked to call Derbyshire police on 101 quoting reference 17000330482 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

There was also a similar raid in Ashby at the Nationwide Building Society at 3.09am on Monday, July 10, in Market Street where a digger caused extensive damage to the bank. Thieves are captured on CCTV footage pulling up outside the bank - one in the digger and another in a large truck. The digger is then rammed into the front of the bank at high speed FOUR times destroying the front of the building.

Leicestershire Police also appealed for information after the attempted theft of the ATM took place at around 12.20am on Sunday, August 13, at the Moto Services at junction 23A of the M1 at Castle Donington. Officers said that several men, who were described as being masked, were seen trying to get in to the area by forcing open a fire exit.

JCB digger in the side of the Co-op in Kings Bromley

Once inside they attempted to remove a free-standing ATM before fleeing the scene empty-handed shortly afterwards.

Witnesses have described three vehicles, a light-coloured Audi, a white flat-bed or pick-up style truck and a white van, as possibly being used by the suspects.