A VAN used during an overnight ram-raid has been discovered burnt out in Great Totham.

Essex Police are investigating after the Co-op store in Weavers Court, Halstead, was raided in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A group of thieves used a blue Transit van and a blue Nissan X-trail 4x4 to smash through the front doors of the store before they then took a free standing cash machine inside.

Three men wearing balaclavas were then seen running a across the car park outside the store, before they left the scene via a dark saloon car and the transit used to break through the front doors.

Ally Hamer, a resident from Mill Bridge who witnessed the thieves leave the car park, said: "I went downstairs and could hear the alarm going off. I thought I would have a look and see.

"As I did that a dark blue van and black car screeched out of the car park. I wasn't really sure what was happening."

The transit used for the raid was discovered burnt out in Great Totham later on Tuesday morning.

Police have conducted investigations at the scene and are also reviewing CCTV images.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Braintree CID quoting incident 19 of 21/11 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.