A gang forced their way into a village post office and shop near Wantage last night and stole £,3000-worth of cigarettes.

The break-in at Uffington Post Office, in Broad Street, is thought to have happened at 11.15pm.

The raiders broke in through the front doors and removed the alarm from the wall before making off with the cigarettes and other stock from the store.

Rose Holborow, who has run the post office with her husband David for the past 11 years, said: "Our bread and milk man called us this morning to say that the doors had been forced open.

"They took the alarm system right off the wall and then got a quantity of money, an awful lot of cigarettes and booze, and chewing gum and Mars Bar drinks.

"We were celebrating on Tuesday because we were not on the Post Office closures list and now this happens - it's very upsetting.

"There was an attempted break-in a few years ago, but nothing like this.

"They forced the lock to the post office to get to the safe but they didn't find it.

"One of the neighbours, who runs a bed-and-breakfast, also had £350 stolen from her house, which was collected from a charity pancake sale."

Mrs Holborow said police scenes-of-crime officers were visiting the post office today to carry out forensic tests.