A shopfront was severely damaged and a cash machine stolen during an overnight ram raid. 

Police have launched an investigation into the incident which took place at the Co-op food store in Spa Road, Hockley. 

Police were called just after 1.55am this morning to reports that the store had been broken into and the ATM machine removed.

Five men are believed to have left Spa Road, in the direction of Ashingdon, in a white sedan style car just after 2am. 

Another vehicle, a black Nissan Navara pick-up truck, was abandoned at the scene. 

Officers searched the local area with no trace of any other vehicles or the ATM machine.

If you have any information about this incident, or any CCTV or dash cam footage available to view, please call Southend CID on 101 quoting 65 of 05/09.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.