By Dave GooderhamRAM-RAIDERS have stolen a motorbike and a top prize in a Christmas competition from a village garage.The owners of Howletts Garage in Lavenham have been left counting the cost after the raid on the premises at about 1am yesterday.

By Dave Gooderham

RAM-RAIDERS have stolen a motorbike and a top prize in a Christmas competition from a village garage.

The owners of Howletts Garage in Lavenham have been left counting the cost after the raid on the premises at about 1am yesterday.

It is believed a people carrier was used to smash the front window of the garage's showroom before the raiders escaped with a motocross bike and a Christmas hamper.

Howletts Garage partner, Simon Howlett, said: “It is a sad fact in society that you expect this thing to happen whether you're a business or a private individual.

“I don't know how I felt when I heard about the incident - I just felt numb to it.

“We were subjected to a couple of attacks a few years ago when we used to sell petrol and had a shop in an adjacent building, but this is the first time for a while.”

Mr Howlett said the raiders had stolen a £2,500 Yamaha schoolboy motocross motorbike and the £100 hamper, which contained a host of Christmas goodies and was going to be a prize in a competition run by the garage.

But he said the competition would not be affected and a replacement hamper would be purchased.

A Suffolk police spokeswomen said four people had been seen in Lavenham at the time of the incident and they had driven off towards Sudbury.

Anyone with information should contact Pc Sally Smith, of Sudbury police, on 01284 774300.

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk