FOUR men have now been arrested and questioned over the failed bid to remove a cash machine from a village store wall.

Three men were earlier arrested by police who were alerted to the incident, as it was taking place, by local residents.

They were awoken by the sound of alarms activating as the would be thieves used a mechanical digger to try to prise the machine from the wall of the Co-op, in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, at 4.20am yesterday.

Two men said to be wearing balaclavas or ski masks abandoned the digger, leaving it in situ outside the store, in Broom Lane.

It is thought the JCB-type machine was taken from a nearby farm and driven to Ushaw Moor across fields.

Three of the alleged perpetrators, aged 24, 28 and 30, were arrested yesterday morning.

Later yesterday a further suspect, aged 34, was arrested and all four were detained for questioning by detectives through the course of the day.

A Durham force spokesman confirmed today that all of the men, who are from the local area, were released pending further inquiries.

They are to answer their bail at a local police station in six weeks.

No cash was taken in the raid, but the store was badly damaged and remained closed yesterday and earlier today, with the area in the vicinity of the cash machine in Broom Lane sealed off as initial police inquiries took place.

Chief Inspector Colin Williamson, of Durham Police, thanked members of "the local community" for their assistance which helped to ensure early arrests in the investigation.

* Anyone with information which may assist police inquiries into the incident is asked to ring 0345-60 60 365.