THIS is the dramatic moment that thieves smashed their way into a Swindon supermarket in a cement mixer lorry.

Police have released CCTV pictures of the incident at the Somerfield store in Hyde Road, Upper Stratton last month.

The hoodie-wearing gang struck in the early hours of Thursday, April 13 in a bid to steal a cash machine loaded with bank notes.

Police have now said they believe that four or five men were involved in the attempt, which left the front wall of the store a heap of debris.

They tried to attach a cable to the cash machine to pull it out of the store but the cable snapped and the gang made off.

It is not known if anything else was stolen.

The thieves then tried to make their getaway in the cement truck, but that was later found abandoned on the A419, where it is believed that the men then made their getaway in a dark blue Subaru estate car.

That vehicle was seen to head off along the A419 in the direction of Castle Eaton and Fairford.

Officers are also checking to see if the Upper Stratton incident can be linked with any other similar thefts or attempted thefts of cash machines in the area.

In October thieves stole a JCB digger from a building site and used it to try to dig the Lloyds TSB cash dispenser from the wall in Fairford High Street, but the attempt failed after it became stuck.

Swindon police are appealing for anyone with information about the Somerfield incident to contact them.

Callers are asked to contact DC Steve Thorpe or DC Clare Wyness at Swindon CID on 0845 408 7000.