THIEVES have smashed and set alight a cashpoint and raided a supermarket in Marlborough in the early hours of this morning.

At just before 4am police were called to Tesco in Salisbury Road after the supermarket’s security alarm was triggered.

When officers arrived, they discovered a window near the entrance had been smashed and the security shutters to the cigarette counter prised open and raided. It is not yet known how much has been stolen.

Two hours later at 5.53am police returned to Salisbury Road. This time to reports of the cashpoint outside Fraser Budgens store and petrol station being set alight and broken into.

It is thought the thieves used a crowbar to break into the cashpoint and steal a large quantity of cash. No entry was made to the petrol station's shop.

Forensic officers have been at both businesses today looking for evidence and police tape have been put up around the cashpoint and Tesco’s cigarette kiosk. Both the garage and store are open as normal and Tesco’s broken window has been boarded up.

Police have not yet confirmed whether they are linking both incidents or released any details on the identity of the suspects or cars but they are reviewing CCTV.

The sight of the police tape and cars has been drawing a lot of attention from members of the public. Tesco shopper Betty Hailson, 69, said: “I’ve come to do my food shop and the last thing I expected was to see a forensic van while I buy a loaf of bread. It’s such a shame someone would do something like that.”

Budgens did not want to comment on incident.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We can confirm that there was a burglary at our Marlborough store in the early hours of the morning. We are cooperating with the police in their investigation and our store is open as normal for customers.”

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to Tesco in Salisbury Road, Marlborough, at approximately 3.56am this morning following a burglary.

"It is believed a window was smashed at the store and cigarettes were stolen during the incident." 

They added: "Wiltshire Police received a call at 5.53am on 19 June 2015, following a report that a cash machine had been attacked overnight at the Budgens Store in Hertford Road, Marlborough.

"The front of the machine was missing, but it is unclear at this stage if money has been taken, and how much.

"Officers are carrying out a thorough investigation this morning and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area overnight, or who may have heard or seen anything suspicious."

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.