Thieves used a sledgehammer to smash their way into two businesses before stealing thousands of pounds worth of stamps.

Police were called shortly before 2.50am yesterday after burglars struck at two businesses on the Market Place in Fairford overnight.

Thieves smashed their way into the Co-operative store, where nothing is believed to have been taken.

Before the thieves targeted the Post Office stealing several thousand pounds worth of stamps.

The window of a hairdressers was also smashed by the offenders before they made off in a grey Volkswagen Golf.

The car was fitted with number plates stolen from another Volkswagen Golf some time earlier in the day in Park Street, Fairford, before the offenders parked outside the Co-op prior to the incident.

A full investigation, including forensic and house to house enquiries, is underway and anyone with information who hasn’t yet come forward is urged to call 101 and quote incident 34 of August 14.

In particular officers want to hear from anyone with CCTV that may be relevant or anyone who saw the incident, the theft of the number plates or anyone behaving suspicious in the area in the run-up to the burglaries.