DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses a group of men escaped with a cash machine at a Co-op store in a Kent village early today.

The thieves used two 4x4 vehicles during the raid at the store in Churchfield Way at Wye, near Ashford, at around 2am.

They forced entry and took the cash machine from inside the shop.

The thieves, thought by police to be a gang of four men, loaded it onto one of the vehicles before driving off into Olantigh Road.

A member of the public alerted police the theft had taken place.

Forensic tests are being carried out at the scene today and officers are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious or who noticed two 4x4 vehicles driving in the village in the early hours of the morning to contact then on 01233 896282.