FARNHAM was the scene of a ram-raid early on Wednesday morning when thieves ploughed a stolen four-wheel drive vehicle through a sports store window, making off with thousands of pounds worth of clothing (reports STEVE BERRIMAN).

It was at around 2 am when the Toyota Hilux reversed into tennis specialists PWP Sports, East Street, shattering a £3,000 window and cracking an adjacent window.

Store manager Ian Mitchell, (35), told The Herald that the two offenders then spent less than two minutes loading the vehicle up with more than £6000 worth of sports clothing and trainers before speeding off down the A31.

After turning off towards Runfold, he says, the off-roader passed a police car stationed on the A31 fly-over, which immediately gave chase.

Police pursued the thieves to a side lane in Ash, where the Toyota is reported to have spun out of control and finally crashed.

The two offenders then exited the Toyota and made their escape before police could apprehend them.

All of the stock stolen in the raid was returned to PWP Sports, but the store was left with a window bill amounting to nearly £6000.