RAM-RAIDERS have smashed into the front of a family-run newsagents in Winchcombe for the fifth time and made off with thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes.

Neighbours of J Keeling Newsagents, in the High Street, were woken by the sound of smashing glass just before midnight on Sunday November 29 and rang the police.

Three men entered the shop while a fourth stayed in the Range Rover which had been stolen from a property in Stockwell Lane, Woodmancote. All were wearing balaclavas or hoods. The vehicle then made off in the direction of Toddington and was found on Monday morning, abandoned in Becketts Lane, Greet.

Paul Keeling, the owner of the shop said the family had been at the shop since 1960 and it was the fifth time this had happened with vehicles ramming the front of the shop.

"They've even used scaffolding poles attached to the front in the past to break their way in. It is so disappointing that people would inflict this sort of thing on other people and cause so much damage. The amount of work they have caused to the building is huge. They are pathetic.

"We have had to get a temporary repair done and had to use a neighbour's front room to sort the morning papers out for delivery. We then sold papers from the back of the van.

"They were after the cigarettes and took around £2,500 worth which they'll probably sell on for £250 or less," he said.

Mr Keeling said three neighbours had woken to the noise and CCTV had captured images of the robbers who were in and out within two minutes.

"One neighbour said he had thought about standing in front of the vehicle to try and stop it from getting away but he thought better of it. "The police have taken the CCTV with them."

Police would like to hear from anyone who has further information regarding this incident or the theft of the vehicle to call 101 quoting incident number 422 of 29 November 2015.