A HERO has told how he stopped money from a cash machine being taken.

Tony Hughes, heard the thieves across the road at Lloyds Bank in Bourton on the Water trying to rip the ATM from the wall using a digger and went into the street to help.

He tried to block the cars in, only for a landrover to ram into his car, writing it off.

Mr Hughes, the landlord of the Kingsbridge Inn said: "I heard what was happening as it was quite noisy.

"I went out to see what has happening and ended up playing bumper cars, it was scary.

"It was clear they did not want anyone else around and they smashed into my car with the stolen landrover.

"I managed to reverse away from the scene and they left straight away after I had. They realised that once someone had seen them the police would be on their way.

"Had it been another minute or so than the whole machine would have been stolen."

Mr Hughes added his disappointment with Lloyds for their reaction to the incident as the car was insured with the bank.

Mr Hughes' £25,000 BMW 135i vehicle was a complete write-off following the crash.

The cash machine was ripped out on Friday April 28, which left the village with no ATM machines.

A cash machine will open at the Co-Op store on Friday (June 9) after the Co-Op also had its cash machine ripped out.

A mobile banking service where people can withdraw money and talk to advisors is parked on Tuesdays at the George Moore Community Centre from 9.45am until noon and then 12.45pm until 2.15pm.