A PUB landlord tried to stop a gang who ripped a cashpoint out of a bank in Bourton-on-the-Water this morning.

Thieves wearing balaclavas used a stolen JCB to ram the Lloyds Bank building and attempted to steal cash from the ATM just before 4am today. 

But a landlord of the Kingsbridge Inn Tony Hughes used his BMW to challenge the gang.

After the criminals repeatedly rammed his BMW with their Land Rover Freelander, they fled the scene without the cash machine. 

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

They left a big hole was left in the wall where the cash machine used to be and a large pile of rubble.

Police are appealing for witnesses to please come forward. Call 101, quoting incident number 24 of April 28.

It was only in December that another cashpoint at the Co-op on Station Road, Bourton was ripped out using a JCB.

And in October 2015, there was a similar incident where thieves used a JCB to smash their way into a shop to steal a cash machine.

Social media users expressed frustration that criminals have managed to rip out another a cashpoint again, calling on more police presence in the village.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, county councillor representing Bourton and Northleach, said: "I've already been in touch with Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Brierley that this has happened.

"We have a meeting planned February about anti-social behaviour with the PCC and we’ve got a repeat follow up meeting in May, but this latest incident will be on the agenda of that.

"There is not enough physical presence in the village. The people want that presence.

"It’s unsettling for people in the village because a string of incidents is something people haven’t been used to in the past. You’re getting more regular incidents.

"It makes people feel insecure and it makes people think: 'what is happening to village that we live in?'"