Suffolk police have linked a vehicle fire in Ipswich to an overnight ram raid which caused ‘significant damage’ to a petrol station in Hadleigh.

East Anglian Daily Times: A petrol station in Lady Lane, Hadleigh was ram raided last night. Picture: ARCHANTA petrol station in Lady Lane, Hadleigh was ram raided last night. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Suffolk police were called to the Londis Petrol Station on the B1070 Lady Lane shortly after 3am this morning.

Officers have reported that a white Nissan Primastar van was used to pull the wall away from the side of the building and once inside, a safe was removed.

The safe was left behind but an amount of cash had been stolen from within.

The incident caused significant damage to the building and the offenders made off in the vehicle.

East Anglian Daily Times: A petrol station in Lady Lane, Hadleigh was ram raided last night. Picture: ARCHANTA petrol station in Lady Lane, Hadleigh was ram raided last night. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Officers attended and searched the area but there was no trace of the van.

A cordon remains in place at the petrol station while an investigation gets underway.

Shortly after 4.15am, police received another call following reports of a white Nissan Primastar van on fire in Gippeswyk Park, in Ancaster Road, Ipswich.

Fire crews assisted with the fire and the van was recovered.

Officers believe the same van was used in the ram raid and had been stolen from an earlier incident in Polstead.

The van, which contained various tools, was stolen from outside of an address in Martens Lane at some point between 1.40pm and 2.15pm on Thursday, June 27.

It is understood that no arrests have been made.

A spokesman from Suffolk police said: "Anyone with information about the ram raid, the fire or the theft of the van, should contact South CID at Landmark House, quoting crime reference 37/38934/19 or 37/37333/19.