RAMRAIDERS who smashed into a village shop to steal a cash machine dropped their loot as they led police on a dangerous car chase to Cheltenham.

The raiders struck at Badsey's Spar shop in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 30.

Using a green Cherokee Jeep, that had been stolen from Mickleton, the three masked men smashed through the front doors of the High Street store.

Using a chain they dragged the machine out of the premises and loaded it into the back of the vehicle.

Shortly after police arrived gave chase.

The raiders drove off along School Lane where the machine fell out of the back of the vehicle. Leaving the machine in the road they continued their escape through Willersey, Broadway and Teddington Hands to the outskirts of Cheltenham, where they escaped on foot.

Mr Suki Samra, one of the owners of the shop, said nobody had been hurt in the incident and that damage to the shop had not been too severe.

"The front doors were damaged and they were only interested in taking the cash machine, which has since been recovered," he said.

West Mercia spokesman, Richard Bull said: "Officers followed the vehicle, which was driven erratically and twice tried to reverse into the police car, until it was abandoned alongside the Cheltenham-Birmingham railway line in Swindon Village, Cheltenham, at about 4.15am - approximately 30 minutes after the theft."

Three other stolen cars found in the area following the incident, a Subaru Impreza, a Volvo estate and an Audi, are believed to have been involved in the raid.

Police say they cannot rule out links with two similar incidents in Ashton-under-Hill and Evesham during the last three months.

They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or the subsequent chase to contact them on 08457 444888 quoting incident number 87S/300504.