TRADERS have been left counting the cost after a spate of ram-raids in a New Forest community.

Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused to three businesses in New Milton and the neighbouring village of Hordle.

Police say two of the premises were targeted in the early hours of the same day.

A vehicle was driven into the front of Ferndale Stores in Ferndale Road, New Milton, last Tuesday between 3.40am and 4am.

A similar incident occurred at a Tesco petrol filling station in nearby Caird Avenue minutes later – but in both cases the thieves fled empty handed.

At Ferndale Stores the raiders smashed the glass in the front door and climbed into the shop, setting off an alarm that was linked to police.

They damaged a cigarette cabinet behind the counter in a failed attempt to force it open before fleeing as officers swooped on the store.

The shop was able to open the next day but owner and manager Ananda Rathnayaka said the would-be thieves caused damage totalling £2,000 and £3,000.

He added: “I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years and this is the first time this sort of thing has happened,” he said.

“You don’t expect something like this to happen here. The area is really nice and the people are all so friendly.”

Police are investigating a potential link with the petrol station incident, in which the front door was damaged but no entry was gained.

A Tesco spokesman said police were probing what he described as an attempted robbery at the store. He added that no further details would be released while the investigation was being carried out.

The two incidents follow a ram-raid that occurred last week at R S Smart Repairs in Silver Street, Hordle.

The thieves fled empty-handed after a neighbour woken by the noise hurled a brick at their car, believed to have been a blue Vauxhall Vectra.

Ring Hampshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.