Thieves steal bank cash machine

The cash machine was stolen in the early hours of the morning

A Kent high street had to be sealed off after thieves used a mechanical digger to steal a cash machine from a bank.

They removed the machine from the wall of Lloyds TSB, in Lydd, before loading it into one of two light-coloured 4x4 vehicles, at about 0330 GMT.

One vehicle was described as a four wheel drive pick-up, and the other as a Land Rover Land Cruiser.

Police said a number of patrols were deployed to the area soon after the incident, but the thieves escaped.

The two offenders were described as wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, and one had an Irish accent.

They were both about 5ft 10ins (1.7m) tall.