A man has been released from custody following the attempted theft of a cash machine.

Thieves rammed through a shop, stole an ATM machine, before abandoning it half a mile down the road.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

(The stolen ATM machine. Picture by Sean Maffett) 

A 40-year-old man was arrested at an address in Cheltenham yesterday but has now been released from custody. Forensic enquries are continuing.

Police were called to the theft the Londis store, in Bourton-on-the-Water High Street at 2.15am on Wednesday.

A member of the public reported seeing a white Transit van attached to the ATM at the Londis store as thieves attempted to pull it from the wall.

It is then thought that they dragged it half a mile down the High Street into Lansdowne where it was abandoned.

The ATM was left in the middle of the road with the cash contents intact.

Police believe they transferred to a silver saloon car, possibly a BMW.

Scenes of crime officers have been working at the scene and the abandoned vehicle and the ATM have now been recovered.

Det Sgt Jon Newton said: "We are grateful to the members of the public who alerted us to the incident which enabled us to be on the scene quickly.

"Thankfully nothing was stolen, but we are aware of the damage caused and the impact this will have on the local community and visitors to this popular village.

"We would like to hear from anyone who has information which would help our investigation and enable us to bring the offenders to justice."

Police are asking for any witnesses, not already spoken to, to call 101 quoting the incident number 22 of May 22.