The front of a high street supermarket has been ripped off by thieves stealing a cash machine.

Police were called to Sainsbury's in Headcorn at around 11.45pm last night.

Fortunately, no-one was injured during the burglary.

An eyewitness said: "A huge chunk of the Sainsbury's Local has been taken out. There are two police officers and around 5-6 workers surveying the area.

"The High Street has been cordoned off and at the moment traffic seems to be coping quite well."

While the thieves took the entire cash machine along with a significant section of the shop wall, it may have been for nothing.

According to those living and working nearby, the cashpoint had been empty and not dispensing money prior to the burglary.

Water and power to the store has had to be turned off.

Listen to Kim Hook who works at Oldfield’s Convenience Store

The High Street was closed for several hours in both directions between North Street and Station Road at around midnight and did not open until late morning.

Traffic was diverted away from the High Street by using Forge Lane and Kings Road to reach the Maidstone Road.

The ATM was placed in the back of a silver vehicle which left in the direction of Headcorn aerodrome.

The telehandler which was abandoned at scene was later confirmed to have been stolen from a nearby building site.

Residents in Forge Lane heard the raid as it happened, one man who did not wish to be named said he thought a car had hit the front of his house.

Local businesses along the High Street had to close and faced a downturn in customers after the closure.

Kim Hook works at Oldfield's Convenience Store.

She said: "Apparently they went to fill the cashpoint up there yesterday but they couldn't because there was water there.

"Whoever's took it aren't going to get anything.

"It's scary."

Local businesses along the High Street had to close and faced a downturn in customers after the closure.

Ms Hook continued: "I got here just after 5.30am, they wasn't allowing any access into our shop so we lost business for about an hour.

"My boss got on the phone, 10 minutes police came back and lifted the cordon outside our shop about 7.30am."

District commander, chief inspector Mark Hedges said: "This type of crime takes planning and has caused disruption to the local community.

"While investigators are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry, we are appealing for people to come forwards if they saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area, saw the crane travelling through the village or a silver vehicle driving at speed through the rural area after the incident."

Officers are asking witnesses or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage to call the appeal line on 01622 604100 quoting reference 19-1730.

Alternatively they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555111.