POLICE are investigating at least two incidents in which ram-raiders caused extensive damage to two convenience stores in Hampshire.

Thieves used a vehicle to smash their way through security shutters at Lloyds Pharmacy in Lordshill, Southampton, and a McColl's convenience store in Fleming Avenue, North Baddesley.

Police are trying to establish if the two raids were linked.

Last night the front window of Cash Converters in Shirley High Street was also boarded up but it was not clear if that business had also been targeted by ram-raiders.

The incident at Lloyds Pharmacy took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It comes less than a year after a silver-coloured Ford Focus was driven through double doors at the back of a neighbouring McColl’s store.

Now campaigners are calling for security to be stepped up in a bid to prevent further attacks.

Bollards have been placed at several locations in and around the precinct but vehicles can still be driven up to some of the shops.

Ward councillor Don Thomas is calling for more barriers to be installed.

He said: "It's time that shops and businesses took action to protect their premises. Ram-raids cause a huge amount of damage and its worth spending a bit of money to stop them from happening.

"Working with the police and the council we need to put more bollards in place where necessary to help prevent this sort of crime."

Lloyds Pharmacy staff stood guard outside the premises on Saturday morning while they waited for the badly-damaged building to be repaired.

One employee told passers-by: "They will try to get us open as soon as possible, even if it means putting a portable building on the forecourt outside."

Asked if anything had been stolen she added: "We don't really know - we can't get inside to assess anything."

One passer-by surveying the damage said: "I can't believe it - the vehicle they used must have been written off."

Another added: "Think of the noise - it must have been like a bomb going off."

A police spokesman said two men reversed a Hyundai car into the pharmacy shortly before 3.30am on Saturday. She added that perfume had been stolen in the raid but was unable to say how much.

The North Baddesley raid took place between 2.15am and 2.30am yesterday and involved a white vehicle containing several men who made off with cigarettes.