THIEVES have made off with thousands of pounds of cigarettes in a raid on a Hampshire store.

Men wearing bikers' helmets smashed their way in to the Co-operative shop in North Baddesley.

Rushing to the till, they climbed over and went straight for the cigarettes, emptying the counter into a large plastic bag.

They then went to the back of the store, in Botley Road, and kicked in the door to the storage area and took alcohol.

A member of staff said she believed two men had entered the store, which was closed, while another remained outside with a motorbike.

The burglars, who got in at around 5am after levying the shutters and smashing the front door, had already escaped by the time police arrived.

Forensic teams were at the store yesterday.

This comes just days after thieves raided a Co-operative store in Holbury and made off with hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes in the early hours on Tuesday.

A supervisor at the store said the burglary had left her worried that they might come back and that she doubted they would be the last store targeted.

"I think another store will be hit. Holbury got done - we're just thinking who's next," she said.

The store was forced to open several hours late.