IT was third time unlucky for a gang of dopey ram-raiders when they managed to score a hat-trick of bungled jobs.

Their latest botched job came in the early hours of yesterday in the quiet village of Staindrop, in County Durham.

The four balaclava-clad raiders attacked the village's Spar shop, in North Green, just after 2.30am, smashing the store's window before using a stolen vehicle to wrench a cash machine from a wall.

But, for the third time this year, the gang were forced to flee empty-handed when they found the machine too heavy to lift into the back of their getaway car.

The dispenser was eventually dumped in the middle of the road, before the raiders drove away.

The raiders even had the gall to steal their getaway vehicle, a silver and burgundy Daihatsu Fourtrak, just yards from the shop.

Police have already linked the attack with two similar raids in the nearby village of Evenwood, earlier this year, when a gang, using a Daihatsu, were left disappointed after they ram-raided a local shop.

This followed another bungled job in the village in March, when ram raiders tried to steal a cash dispenser using a stolen car, but were forced to abandon it nearby.

Spar owner David Cronin, 36, said: "They seem to have prepared a bit better for this one, but they still managed to mess it up.

"The cash machine had just been filled with £25,000 the day before, so they had obviously done their homework, but they left with nothing, and left me with a huge mess."

A witness to the attack, who was woken when he heard the gang smashing the window, said: "I looked out of my window and they were trying to heave the cash machine into their jeep but couldn't lift it, so, after a couple of minutes one shouted 'go'. It was quite professional."

The jeep was found abandoned at Toy Top picnic area, off the A68, near Heighington, yesterday afternoon.

Detective Sergeant Graham Buckle, of Bishop Auckland CID, said: "We believe it is the same gang who have raided village shops in the Teesdale area in the last year.

"Anyone who saw anything suspicious between midnight and 2.30am on Wednesday should contact us."

Anyone with information can contact Bishop Auckland CID, on (01388) 603566.