RESIDENTS spoke of their shock after ramraiders escaped with a cash machine after smashing through the walls of a village store with a forklift truck.

RESIDENTS spoke of their shock after ramraiders escaped with a cash machine after smashing through the walls of a village store with a forklift truck.

The criminals targeted the Co-op food store on Cuckoofield Lane, Mulbar-ton, in the early hours of Thursday and left with the ATM and �21,000.

Detectives were called to the village shop at 4.15am after an orange Sanderson teleporter and a light-coloured pick-up vehicle were used in the theft.

The transporter used is believed to have been stolen from an address in Hethel, and officers are exploring whether the offence was linked to an attempted theft of a teleporter in Intwood Lane, East Carleton, during the night.

The cash machine, which was in the wall of the Co-op, was rammed by the teleporter, causing substantial damage. It is believed the light-coloured pick-up type of vehicle was used to transport the ATM.

Det Insp Gary Bloomfield, who is leading the investigation, said: "I'm appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, has knowledge of the crime or who saw anything suspicious to come forward and tell us."

Parish clerk Kay Meazey said the store had been targeted by thieves before, but the latest incident had come as "a bit of shock for everyone".

"People are just shattered that in a lovely village like Mulbarton things like this keep happening. It is about the third time there has been a break-in at the shop, but the first time the cash machine has been taken," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Bruce Clark at Bethel Street CID on 0845 4564567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.