BURGLARS stole cigarettes worth thousands of pounds from the Spar service station in Highworth earlier today.

The offenders broke into the shop around 2am this morning and grabbed packets of cigarettes before escaping.

Instead of opening for business at 6am as usual the Spar was shut for three hours while police officers and forensics teams examined the scene of the crime.

The shop reopened at 10am and staff are still counting the cost of the stolen goods.

Area manager Emma Dee said: "They broke in through the front door and stole quite a lot of cigarettes.

"The alarm went off, which alerted the manager, who then met the police at the scene.

"I'd estimate that the cigarettes were worth a few thousand pounds and we've lost most of our morning trade because we had to close for a few hours."

Wiltshire Police are currently investigating the break-in.