Police are hunting would-be thieves who attempted to steal a cash machine from a Co-op in Aberdeenshire.

The incident happened at the store on Mart Road in Alford before 6.40am on Thursday morning.

The culprits failed to remove the wall-mounted ATM, but damaged it in the process.

Police cordoned off the area on Thursday morning while they investigated the scene of the crime.

Detective inspector Norman Stevenson said: "I would appeal for any members of the public who saw or heard anything suspicious through the night in the area to contact police as soon as possible."

Earlier this year, a gang of thieves who used explosive gas to blow up cash machines across the north east were jailed for a total of 36 years.

They caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to ATMs in Stonehaven, Inverurie, Aberdeen, New Deer and Ellon between August and November 2013 and made off with £130,000.

Anyone with any information about the incident in Alford has been asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.