Thousands of pounds damage at Bayston Hill Spar shop

Thieves fled empty-handed after an attempted break-in at a shop near Shrewsbury, police said today.

Staff at the Spar shop in Lansdowne Road in Bayston Hill said a window was smashed during the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning and will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

Bosses believe the window was broken in an attempt to get into the shop to steal cigarettes, which are removed from the display cabinet every night.

The incident caused the shop to be closed until about 12.30pm on Saturday.

Sheila Kynaston, manager of the Spar, said: "They smashed a window which will cost about £2,000 to replace, but the main thing is the loss of trade. They didn't steal anything.

"They were after cigarettes, but luckily we take precautionary measures and empty the cigarette cabinet every night."

Inspector Jane Fitzpatrick, of West Mercia Police, said: "We were called following reports someone had tried to break into the Spar shop in the Lansdowne Road area of Shrewsbury."

Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously.