Ramraiders smashed their way into a rural petrol station and ripped out a cash dispenser installed only a week ago.

The gang cut through locks on a metal security screen at the Jet service station on the A329 Reading Road at Moulsford, near Wallingford, and rammed the cash machine using a stolen, 4X4 Daihatsu.

The car was left abandoned on the forecourt after the raid yesterday afternoon.

The scene of devastation after the raid

Police believe the raiders transferred to another, faster vehicle and may have driven off in the direction of Pangbourne and Reading.

It is unclear at this stage how much money was in the cash machine that was taken.

The petrol station is owned by Gibbs Garages.

Insp Chris Parker, of Wallingford police, said: "We are checking the speed cameras in Moulsford and the local area to see if they caught a speeding car at about 3.30am, and we're looking at video evidence from the garage forecourt."

He said local residents may not have heard anything as the petrol station was isolated, and the raid could have been timed to coincide with a train passing on the nearby railway line.

He appealed for witnesses who may have seen the Daihatsu, registration no. E201 YNB, or another vehicle speeding off in the early hours.

The blue Daihatsu had been stolen from the Wokingham area.

Witnesses should call the police on 01235 776081.

A scenes-of-crime officer spent yesterday checking the garage for footprints, tyre-tracks and other forensic evidence while staff did what they could to clean up the mess.

The garage is likely to remain shut until tomorrow.

Asked for comment, one worker replied: "Gutted, in a word".