POLICE have taped off an area outside a shop after a ram raid robbery in the early hours of this morning.

Officers were called to the Co-op, in Vernon Road, Greenmount, shortly after 3am to reports of the incident.

After arriving at the scene, they discovered severe damage to the front of the shop and a cash machine lay in the middle of the road.

An eyewitness who witnessed the drama unfold reported seeing a white pick up truck being repeatedly driven into the shop's shutters, before gaining entry.

They added: "I was getting ready for bed and I heard a loud bang. I heard another and then I looked out of the window and saw them ramming the van into the shutters.

"They went in and put something on the cash machine to get it out. They tried to pull it out and it did not work, so they tried again and the cash machine swang round.

"They were there a few minutes messing with the cash machine before they got into it. The police only missed them by about a minute.

"I went over after it all happened and the cash machine looked pretty smashed up.

"This is normally a nice area and you don't expect this sort of thing to happen."

It is believed that the thieves then made off in a getaway vehicle, which was parked nearby, and drove up Longsight Road in the direction of Bury.

Police arrived just minutes later.

The shop remained closed today, with a member of staff saying they were unsure when they will be able to reopen due to the amount of damage.

Among the debris lay strewn across the ground in front of the shop this morning were pumpkins, glass and a shop door.

A stretch of Vernon Road, where the cash machine was found after being dragged from the shop, has also been taped off by police.

It is not known whether any money was taken during the robbery.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly after 3am on Monday, October 22, police were called to reports of a ram raid robbery at the Co-Op on Vernon road in Bury.

"Officers attended and discovered severe damage to the front of the shop and a cash machine was in the middle of the road.

"Police are now investigating and anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting the reference number 0177 of 22/10/18."