A reward of up to £15,000 is being offered to help catch criminals responsible for ram-raids on cash machines across south Oxfordshire.

A mechanical digger was used to steal a substantial but undisclosed amount of cash from a cash machine at HSBC's branch in High Street, Goring, at about 3am on March 6. The earth-digger was stolen from Calcot, near Reading, on March 3.

Detectives are linking the ram-raid to incidents in Berinsfield, Benson, Cholsey and Chalgrove where vehicles have been driven into cash machines in an attempt to steal money.

The British Bankers' Association is offering the reward to anyone who provides details leading to the conviction of those responsible.

Dc Shane Harrison, of Didcot CID, said: "We believe all these incidents are linked. I appeal to anyone who knows who is responsible for these thefts, which have caused a lot of damage to the buildings, or have seen people acting suspiciously around the time of the incidents to contact police immediately."

A stolen Mitsubishi pick-up was driven into the wall of Cost Cutters in Berinsfield between 2.45am and 3.15am on Wednesday last week. Thieves made off empty-handed.

Earlier raids included one at Tesco Express in Cholsey on February 20, using a stolen JCB.

On February 15, a stolen Mitsubishi Shogun was used in a bid to steal cash from a machine at the BP Garage, Benson.

On January 26, a Chrysler Jeep was driven into a cash machine at a shop in Chalgrove High Street. The gang managed to steal a quantity of cash in the raid, which happened just before 2am. Anyone with information should call Dc Harrison via 08458 505505. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you do not wish to give your name.