POLICE say they are linking investigations of two botched ram-raids on Co-op stores in West Oxfordshire. 

It comes after at least two thieves torched a stolen Land Rover in Long Hanborough outside the Cooperative Food, after failing to steal a cash machine at about 3am today.

They snatched two drinks from the store before leaving in two different vehicles, but police said they had no descriptions of the thieves or the getaway cars.

The Land Rover had been stolen shortly before the crime from nearby Isis Close.

It is the second attempted raid on a cash machine in less than week, after thieves also struck a Co-op store in Milton-under-Wychwood on Saturday.

At around 12.45am, police were called after a stolen dark coloured Isuzu Trooper drove into the front of the Co-op store in Shipton Road.

The thieves used the car to drag a cash machine out of the shop before driving off with it dragging behind but it became disconnected and was found not far from the store without any cash removed. 

DS Robert Hughes of Witney CID said: "We are in the early stages of our enquiries. There is quite a lot of damage to the store and it's very unusual for the area."

Eynsham Fire Station had tweeted it had attended the car fire at about 3am.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 43160235011 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111