A convenience store has been badly damaged and a burnt out car discovered following a suspected ram-raid.

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

It is believed the suspects left empty handed.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to a car fire in Jaggard Way at around 1am.

It is believed to have been started deliberately and the blaze is thought to be linked to the ram-raid in Offens Drive.

Witnesses reported seeing two marked police cars and three "undercover" cars at the scene.

Parish councillor Sam Lain-Rose was alerted to the incident in the early hours and captured the fire brigade extinguishing the blaze.

"The store had been smashed through with a Land Rover-type vehicle but they didn't succeed in taking anything," he said.

"It looks like they drove off down the road before torching the car and going off in another vehicle.

"I don't know what their intention was, whether it was the cash machine, cigarettes, or money in the safe."

Julie Howes, who lives above the shop, said: “Me and my son got woken up at around 1am by what I thought was an explosion.

“I looked out of the bedroom window and saw a fire over the road.

“My son went down there and gave the police a statement because he had heard a car screeching off.”

A neighbour who did not want to be named added: “Fumes were coming into the house and the flashing lights alerted us to what was going on.

“I could smell the burning rubber. There was one police car and one fire engine and more police came later to search about.

“The car on fire was a Land Rover Discovery.

“I didn’t realise what it was all about until I saw SPAR was hit and I put two and two together.”

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.

"I don't personally know the reason why we've seen so many incidents recently, I think people take opportunities when they see them," Cllr Lain-Rose added.

"To me, it looks a little bit organised, but whether it's the same people is another question.

"The shops they are targeting are not small businesses but corporate companies, perhaps because they think they might have a substantial amount of money or stock inside.

"I suspect they may be targeting rural areas as they think the police response time might be slower although they were fantastic and got here within minutes."

Police have since arrested a man on suspicion of burglary and drink driving.