RAM-RAIDERS drove a stolen JCB into the wall of a bank this morning, in an attempt to steal a cash machine.

The burglars let down the tyres of four police cars at the empty police station just 300 yards away, before repeatedly driving the digger into the front of the building, on the High Street in Princes Risborough.

The attack, which happened at around 4.20am, failed to free the cash machine from the Natwest branch and the burglars fled empty-handed.

They drove away in a white pickup truck, which has since been recovered in Princes Risborough. The offenders were wearing black woolly hats or balaclavas and dark clothing.

The street remained closed while the building's safety was assessed.

Dee Simmonds, 43, who lives in a flat overlooking the bank, got up to look after her six-month-old baby Eve, and heard the digger reversing in and out of the building.

She said: "It is just unbelievable. They did it right under everyone's noses.

"There are never any police here. If there was more policing these things wouldn't happen and CCTV would stop it too."

Princes Risborough's police station on Longwick Road is unmanned between 10pm and 8am during the week.

Princes Risborough town councillor Alan Turner said: "This is an example of how it is not just antisocial behaviour in Risborough we have had some serious crimes.

"Wycombe District Council needs to make up their minds if they will support us in getting CCTV cameras."

The digger was stolen from Longwick hire company C Putnam and Sons on Summerleys Road on Wednesday night.

Two guard dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross-breeds Sam and Rosie, were missing after the theft.

Stuart Putnam, one of Cliff Putnam's sons, said he was concerned the thieves were responsible. He said the thieves had planned the operation carefully, adding: "The thing about these machines is all the keys are the same for them - it isn't like a car.

"They knew what they were doing and how to drive it."

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 8 505505