POLICE this week appealed for help from the public in the hunt for a ram raid gang who struck a village shop three times in 11 days.

The crooks used stolen cars and wore balaclavas each time they plundered the Londis store in Church Street, Bishops Lydeard.

Shopkeeper Paul Trollope, who lives next door with his wife Jennifer, and their sons Robert and Anthony heard each of the raids occur.

Mr Trollope on the last occasion raced outside armed with a cricket bat and managed to smash the rear windscreen of the raiders' car.

But he was unable to prevent the thieves making off with cigarettes and mobile phones valued at around £2,700.

The shop building also suffered damage estimated at about £3,000.

Mr Trollope believed the ram raiders were professional thieves who knew exactly what they were doing as they were in and out of the shop in under 30 seconds.

He said the raids all took place in the early hours and the thieves appeared to know the positions of the store's security cameras and the location of their target goods.

Mr Trollope said the raiders had obviously "cased" the premises and it seemed as if they had committed similar crimes before.

"I am worried about the safety of my family. Who knows what these people are capable of?

"The police do not have the resources to cover the area and we do not even have our own policeman in Bishops Lydeard," he said.

Taunton MP Jackie Ballard expressed her outrage at the shop attacks.

Mrs Ballard said the community would benefit from again having its own police officer stationed in the village.

She said: "Police officers cannot catch every criminal, but their presence is a deterrent."

Avon and Somerset Police advised the public not to try to tackle ram raiders.

A spokesman said: "These people are reckless by the nature of the offence and the public should not put themselves at risk."