Police are hunting ram-raiders who smashed through the front of the Co-op store risking ‘their lives and officers’ lives’ escaping.

The drama which unfolded shortly after midnight on Tuesday was the second ram-raid on the store within three years.

Police do not believe the incidents are connected.

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Bridport PC Nigel Case, said: “We had a call from a member of the public who heard a loud noise.

“Off the back of that we were on scene within minutes and consequently got behind the vehicle which had ram-raided the store. The vehicle was followed by our police vehicle.

“The vehicle reversed into the police car and damaged it before one passenger in the vehicle threw a disc cutter at the police car.

“Following this, the vehicle drove into a dead end at a left-hand turning near the Lidl store in Bridport and they stopped and ran off on foot.

“There were possibly four offenders, who we believe to all be male.”

PC Case added that because the ram-raid created so much noise late at night, it was likely to have woken nearby residents up who may be able to help with police enquiries.

Bridport Police Inspector Mike Darby said: “The vehicle used for this raid was a stolen 4x4.

“This is a serious offence which we rarely see in Bridport.

“Police were quickly on the scene and pursued the offenders in their vehicle.

“The offenders risked their lives and the police officers’ lives by ramming the police car in their attempt to escape.

“They abandoned their car in the St Catherine’s Road area and police searched the area for a significant period of time trying to locate them but were unsuccessful.

“We are appealing to anyone who lives in the St Catherine’s Road area of Bridport who saw anybody, or groups of people, acting suspiciously around midnight, or if they found anything unusual in their gardens, to contact us.”

The police can be contacted on the 101 number.

Dorset Police had originally thought a large quantity of cash had been stolen, but Bridport Police Inspector Mike Darby confirmed the raiders had fled empty handed – thanks to the quick response from the community.

Police said the cash machine in the Co-op contained tens of thousands of pounds.

The incident also follows a ram- raid at a garage in Maiden Newton back in April when thieves caused more than £20,000 worth of damage.

On April 8, a cash machine was also stolen from a holiday park in Charmouth, with police believing the thieves had used a stolen car to carry out the raid. And on March 30, a post office in Mosterton was ram-raided, with thieves targeting an ATM but were unsuccessful.

l The Co-op remains open for business with entry through the side doors.