RAM-RAIDERS smashed the shutters of a Bromley Cross off-licence with a car before clearing the shelves of cigarettes.

The daring raid was carried out at Bargain Booze in Darwen Road in the early hours of Tuesday.

Four robbers pulled up at the store at about 1.40am in a dark-coloured Daihatsu Terios.

It was then repeatedly reversed into the metal shutters until they damaged enough for the raiders to tear them away.

Three of the offenders got out and managed to prise the shutters open while the other man waited in the car.

They raided the shop and loaded the car with thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes before driving away.

It is not thought any money was stolen as the till may have been empty.

The footage shows the driver try four times to ram the shutters of the store.

On the final, successful attempt, he increases his speed and smashes the shutter back into the shop.

The robbers, all wearing balaclavas and hooded tops, then alight and tear the shutter back before ducking underneath it to get inside.

CCTV footage has been released as police step up efforts to catch the robbers.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden said: "The offenders used the car to smash the shop shutters multiple times and stole a large quantity of cigarettes.

"They didn’t care what damaged they caused and it was just fortunate that no staff were inside the shop at the time or anyone was outside.

"I urge people to watch the video and contact police if they believe they recognise any of the three robbers pictured or if anyone has been offered a quantity of cigarettes which they believe may have come from this crime.

“The car the raiders used is also still outstanding so any sightings of a similar car with rear end damage would be useful.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5671, 101, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.