RAM-RAIDERS used a JCB to steal cash from Holmes Chapel Post Office in the early hours this morning, Wednesday.

Around 2.50am today, October 9, police were called to the Post Office outside McColls in the village.

Officers attended and found that offenders had used a JCB to crash into and remove the machine located outside the store.

They had then fled the scene with an unknown quantity of cash, travelling in a dark-coloured transit van on the A50, London Road, in the direction of Middlewich.

Knutsford Guardian:

The demolished front of the post office. Picture by Peter Harris

Peter Harris, a journalist and author who lives in Sandbach, said: "The amount of damage was amazing.

"The whole front of the post office was demolished in the raid and the housing from the ATM machine had literally been dragged out from the wreckage."

DS Stephen Richardson said: “Our investigation into this incident is in its very early stages, and we are committed to doing all we can to trace the people responsible and bring them to justice.

“We are currently following a number of lines of enquiry.

“As part of this we want to hear from anyone with any information which may aid our investigation.

“The same goes for anyone who believes that they may know who the offenders are, or have CCTV or dashcam footage of them arriving at or fleeing the scene.”

Anyone with any information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 534213, or online here.

Information can also be passed anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

To submit dashcam footage click here.