POLICE are still hunting a gang who ram-raided the Co-op store in Fore Street, Wellington, in the early hours of Thursday (July 4).

CCTV pictures show five men were directly involved while a sixth is thought to have been the driver of the getaway car.

Mark Jones, manager of the store for the past six years, said: “We assume they were after the ATM machine which was wrecked along with a £12,000 self-checkout till.

“The store was closed for all of Thursday and we re-opened on Friday with plenty of customers. I would like to thank all our customers for their support.”

The store, which employs 21 permanent staff, was badly damaged and the total cost of the raid is thought to be more than £30,000.

County and local councillor John Thorne, who lives across the road near the store, said: “The noise of the ram-raid woke me as I heard lots of car tyres squealing and people shouting.

“I assumed it was people coming out of The Iron Duke having a row.

“After a couple of minutes a car could be heard loudly driving off down North Street, I think.”

The alarm was raised by The Iron Duke at just after 1am. Police were on the scene within seven minutes but stood back until an armed response team arrived because a shotgun was thought to be involved, although this has not been confirmed.

The raiders used a four-wheel Mitsubishi SUV to reverse into the front of the Co-op premises before trying to use a cable to pull out the ATM. However, they were unsuccessful and left empty-handed.

None of the staff lost pay on Thursday and most of them turned up for work as usual.