A police dog has helped officers arrest a man in connection with a suspected ram-raid.

The SPAR shop in Offens Drive in Staplehurst sustained huge amounts of damage after it was targeted during an attempted theft overnight.

The suspects are believed to have used a vehicle to smash through the store at around 1am but made off empty handed.

A Land Rover Discovery reported stolen from Tunbridge Wells was subsequently found on fire nearby in Jaggard Way.

Patrols and a police dog attended the scene and completed a search of the area.

After spotting a suspicious vehicle they attended Marden Road and arrested a 30-year-old man from Hurst Green, East Sussex on suspicion of burglary and drink driving.

He remains in police custody.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information or who has CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist their investigation to call the appeal line on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/46578/19.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555111.

The raid was the latest in a series of incidents, after a JCB digger was used to rip out the ATM machine outside Co-op in Hopeville Avenue, Broadstairs last month.

Before that, a 4x4 reversed into One Stop in High Halden, Ashford, smashing the whole shop front, while Kennington in Ashford was targeted on February 7, Detling Hill and Lenham in January, Hythe and Headcorn in November and Blean in September.

However, it also emerged last month that only three people have been charged for ram-raiding cash machines in the county over the last five years.