A CASH machine was ripped out by thieves in balaclavas as the latest in a string of incidents.

The ATM machine was torn out at Lloyds Bank in Bourton-on-the-Water, making it the third incident in 17 months and police are not ruling it out that the raids were linked.

Offenders used a stolen JCB to ram the Lloyds building on Friday and ripped the machine from the wall, but no cash was taken.

The culprits then smashed into a BMW car parked in the Kingsbridge pub car park that was in the path of their getaway.

Other vehicles used during the raid were a stolen Mitsubishi pickup and a Landrover Freelander.

The offenders made off in another high powered vehicle during the raid at around 4am on Friday morning.

The culprits caused substantial damage to the historic stone building but no one was injured.

Lloyds bank re-opened yesterday (Wednesday) after being shut on Friday due to the damage caused.

CID officers attended the scene to make enquiries and took witness statements, together with forensic officers examining the stolen vehicles for evidence.

The raid now leaves the village without a cash machine and local resident Sean Maffett criticised police for not finding the culprits to the other raids.

Mr Maffett said: "I don't expect police to be on the streets 24 hours a day in Bourton, but I would expect them to have been able to work out who is taking the cash machines by now.

"This is the third incident in 17 months and I would have thought after the first two, police would think that thieves have gone after two cash machines in Bourton, they will probably go after the third.

"I want to know what the police are going to do about it, I for one feel that this is nothing less than a gross dereliction of police duty and effectiveness in the county."

Mr Maffett added: "You can get money from the post office but it is very small, and you could end up having to queue for ages.

"The Londis also gives cashback, but only up to £20.

"There were lots of tourists in Bourton over the bank holiday weekend not sure where to get money out."

Cotswolds Inspector Karen Ellis said: "We can reassure people that local officers do patrol and respond to incidents in and around the village.

"Extensive inquiries into the cashpoint raids are being undertaken by detectives in our CID, as would be the case if these crimes had happened anywhere in the county, so even if people are concerned by what they perceive as a lack of uniformed police in the area we must stress it would not affect the investigation.

"However we must also emphasise that Bourton-on-the-Water is a low crime area and that it is a very safe place to live and visit.

"While it is very challenging to maintain a constant police presence when we have to meet the demands of responding to crime as it happens across the county the new Chief Constable is committed to maintaining and redefining neighbourhood policing to ensure we can remain visible in a time of changing demands and budget constraints.

"Our local policing officers are urging anyone with concerns about crime or anti-social behaviour in Bourton-on-the-Water to call 101 or email 101@gloucestershire.police.uk"

A Lloyds bank spokesman said: "The Bourton branch will re-open for business as usual on Wednesday 3 May.

"The damage caused to the exterior of the branch means the ATM is out of service and the area around it has been cordoned off for safety reasons. Our nearest alternative ATM Is in Stow on the Wold."

Anyone with information, contact 101 quoting incident number 24 of 28 April 2017.