A van burst into flames after a suspected ram-raid attack on a high street shop went wrong.

The vehicle caught fire after it was reversed into the window of the Co-op store on High Street, Redbourn, just after 3am on Tuesday morning.

Police believe the shop’s cash point was the target of the attack.

A car which was spotted leaving the scene at high speed after the attack was found on fire a short time later under a bridge on Lybury Lane.

Officers, supported by a police helicopter, were in attendance to search for suspects but no arrests have yet been made.

The shop remains cordoned off today (Tuesday) as investigations continue.

Fire crews from St Albans, Harpenden and Redbourn rushed to the scene in the early hours to find the van well alight.

They used hose reels to extinguish the blaze, which did not damage the shop itself.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said neighbours were evacuated from the neighbouring flats as a precautionary measure.  

Just 20 minutes later, the St Albans Fire Crew was called to deal with the suspected getaway car on fire on Lybury Lane.

Firefighters used two hose reels to extinguish the fire.

Anyone with any information regarding the two incidents is asked to contact the Hertfordshire Constabulary on the non-emergency 101 number.