Skip to content

Ram-raid severely damages village shop in dawn hit

Ollie Bayliss,in Wingand
Alex Pope,Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Ollie Bayliss/BBC A group of people, helping to clear up a shop, holding onto a shutter. There are five people bending over items. There are bins to the left and bags full of items. The shop front looks dark. Ollie Bayliss/BBC
The community has come together to help clear up the shop

A village store has been severely damaged by an attempted ram-raid.

Thames Valley Police was called to Wing's Local Store in Wing, Buckinghamshire at about 05:00 BST.

"Damage was caused to the front of the premises and a scene watch remains in place," a force spokesperson said.

Sarwbir Singh, the owner of the store on Stewkley Road, said most of the shop had been affected including its counter, double doors, fridge, freezer and goods, and he hoped to reopen as soon as possible.

Ollie Bayliss/BBC Three people outside a shop, helping to clear it up. One is holding a broom, another person is by some bins. There are lots of items on the ground and by bins. The shop front has items in it, but it is dark. Ollie Bayliss/BBC
The owner of Wing's Local Store hopes to reopen as soon as possible

Bridget Knight, clerk at Wing Parish Council, said the impact would be "huge for a small village". It has come just two days after an attempted ram-raid at the Town Hall in Ivinghoe - about seven miles (11km) away.

She added that the council and community were "really saddened and shocked".

A police spokesperson said: "An investigation is under way and inquiries are continuing to establish what has been taken.

"We are keeping an open mind as to whether this incident is linked to the incident in Ivinghoe."

Singh, 46, said: "It doesn't look like a robbery; I don't understand what they've taken - cigarettes, alcohol?"

He said the shop did not have a cash machine and that his insurer was due to visit.

He thanked the community for helping him clear the mess up.

Emma Seabourne, who lives in the village, said she had heard a noise like an "explosion" at about 04:45, had seen a vehicle had reversed into the shop and then she called the police, who arrived within about five minutes.

She said the shop was very popular with locals.

"It's upsetting and unsettling," she said.

She said the community had rallied round and had spent the day helping to clear up the debris.

She added that it showed there was "always more good in the world".

Police asked for anyone with information about the incident to contact them quoting the reference number 43260416626.

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More stories of interest
Related internet links