Haul of cigarettes stolen

A gang of thieves wearing balaclavas ram-raided a convenience store near Shrewsbury before stealing £6,000 of cigarettes and cigars early today.

The three men used a Vauxhall Nova to smash through the front window of the Spar store in Lansdowne Road in Bayston Hill between 3.15am and 3.40am.

They caused extensive damage to the shop front and some of the interior before stealing a large quantity of cigarettes and cigars and fleeing the scene with the haul in another vehicle.

Police said the thieves were believed to have fled along Lansdowne Road and then Glebe Road, heading towards the A49.

Manager Sheila Kynaston said she was shocked and stunned by the attack."They ram-raided the front of the shop with a car. I found out when the alarm company called me shortly after.

"The counter was completely full of cigarettes and cigars so I think they have stolen £6,000 worth of stuff. I'm doing a stock take now.

"I would think the damage to the shop will cost thousands too. They definitely wanted the cigarettes as they did not touch any of the spirits or break into the tills."

A resident, who did not want to be named, was woken by a car back firing and heard the crash and said: "I looked out to see three men in balaclavas running around."

Police spokesman Richard Ewels said police were appealing for witnesses to contact them on 08457 444888.