Newmarket Nationwide branch damaged in ram-raid

A police cordon was put in place after a suspected ram raid at the Newmarket branch of Nationwide

A cash machine has been stolen and a building society branch badly damaged in a ram-raid.

Suffolk Police were called to the Nationwide on the High Street in Newmarket at 04:50 GMT.

A JCB telehandler was used to smash into the frontage and remove the cash dispenser, part of which was then loaded into a Luton van, police said.

Officers said it was thought four people were involved, all dressed in dark clothing and wearing balaclavas.

The van used in the raid made off in a convoy with a Mercedes A Class towards Cambridge and the JCB was left behind, the force added.

Pictures from the scene show damage to the front of the building with smashed glass, bricks and woodwork strewn across the pavement.

The JCB telehandler was left in the middle of Newmarket's High Street

Police appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of the telehandler or any other suspicious vehicles to get in touch

The remains of the cash machine were left strewn outside the building society

A police cordon was put in place while officers investigated.

A Nationwide spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, due to the extent of damage caused, the branch will remain closed for the foreseeable future and those branch colleagues will be working in other surrounding branches.

"Customers needing to use a branch can use any in the surrounding area, such as Ely. Locations and opening hours can be checked on our website."

Police are appealing for anyone who was driving near Newmarket between 04:30 and 05:15 with a dashcam in their vehicle to review it and get in touch with any relevant footage.