BUNGLING bandits are being hunted today after ripping a cashpoint out of Manningtree railway station, before losing the money they stole.

The JCB-style vehicle they used in the raid ended up overturned in a ditch with the cashpoint.

They were discarded just over the Suffolk border, less than a mile away from the station.

The botched burglary happened around 3am today.

The raiders used the vehicle to smash through the locked blue doors which lead to the ticket office.

A chain was attached to the cashpoint in the 6ft-high free-standing container opposite the counter.

The cashpoint was then wrenched out, leaving the frame standing in the reception area.

The raiders are believed to have fled from the station and turned left at the end of the road towards Brantham.

They are thought to have gone under the railway bridge and driven at least a quarter of a mile until they got to the roundabout at Cattawade.

The lumbering getaway vehicle is then believed to have turned left into the road leading to East Bergholt.

However, the vehicle was abandoned when it overturned in a ditch beside the road a short distance away from the roundabout.

It is not known at this stage whether the driver crashed or the vehicle was deliberately dumped.

British Transport Police has said the money which was in the cashpoint has been recovered.

As hundreds of commuters turned up to catch their trains this morning they had to enter the station through a small gate next to the station buffet.

The front entrance was cordoned off by police tape. One of the door showed signs of the damage caused by the raid, while the right-hand one was missing completely.

Inside the foyer the free-standing box the cash machine was in was still in place.

A large chain used to rip the box out could be seen laying on the pavement outside the entrance.

If you have any information which could help the BTP investigation telephone freephone 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.