A VILLAGE convenience store was ram-raided last night after it is believed thieves tried to steal money from the cash machine.

Ram-raiders targeted The Spar on Church Road, Blackrod, late yesterday and, according to reports, fled empty handed.

Today the shop is boarded up.

The ram-raid happened just days after a similar raid at Aldi, where a van had been used to try and pull the cash machine from the wall.

Ward councillor David Grant said: "I'm not sure what vehicle ram raided the Spar but there were reports of a lot of noise when the vehicle hit the building.

"There are lots of flats above the Spar and it could have only been seconds before the driver made a run for it.

"The cash machine has been smashed but they didn't get away with anything.

"It seems peculiar that the same form of incident also happened at the Aldi in Horwich last week."

Cllr Grant is appealing for anyone with information to contact police.

More to follow