A RURAL petrol station has become the latest target for a gang of organised criminals who use JCB diggers to ram and rip out cash machines, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

Police believe the incident, during which burglars made off with £16,000 from Mossdale between Yealand Redmayne and Hale on Monday morning, is linked to a series of similar crimes across the north.

At around 1.12am a gang used a JCB digger, stolen from Burton-in-Kendal, to rip the ATM from the wall.

It was then bundled into one of two vehicles before the burglars sped off towards Lancaster.

Police have confirmed they believe the burglary is linked to a series of similar raids across the north of England including an attack on an Ingleton petrol station cashpoint in January when a gang stole £26,000.

Chief Inspector Kevin McGilloway from Kendal police station said: "We believe that the burglary at the filling station was one of a series of related offences across the north of England by a team of criminals based in the North East."

He said the incidents across North Yorkshire, Durham and Lancashire all involved gangs who had used a vehicle to lift the ATMs out of the wall.

He added: "Cumbria police are liaising with colleagues in other forces across the northern region to pool intelligence and work together to identify who the individuals are."

In a separate raid on a petrol station at Hills garage in Coniston, also in the early hours of Monday morning, burglars used cutting equipment to steal £3,640 from a cashpoint.

Police have said they believe the incident, which took place at 12.45am, was unrelated.

Cumbria police are appealing for witnesses to either raid, especially those who may have seen a dark car or a stolen white Mercedes pick-up - registration M712 UNW - used in the Hale raid.

The Mercedes had been reported stolen from Fell View Industrial Estate on Shap Road, Kendal.

Anyone with information on either crime should call Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111 or Kendal CID on 01539-722611.