"Extensive damage" has been inflicted in an attempted burglary on a picture-book Post Office in one of Gloucestershire's tourist hotspots.

Police were called to reports of an attempted burglary in Bourton-on-the-Water in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Shortly before 1.45am there was an attempt to force entry to the Post Office on the High Street using a vehicle.

The offenders were disturbed by a member of the public and left the seen soon afterwards.

Inspector Simon Ellson, from the Cotswold Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Extensive damage was caused to the post office and although nothing appears to have been stolen, crimes such as this can have a huge impact on the local community.

"The neighbourhood team will be taking part in reassurance patrols over the coming days while the investigation continues.

"Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to please call us or anonymously call independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

The Post Office is just a stone's throw from the idyllic section of the High Street on the banks of the River Windrush that is a magnet for tourists.

Officers investigating the incident would like to hear from anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area in the early hours of this morning, or has any information which would help them with their enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Gloucestershire Constabulary on 101 quoting incident 29 of 29 August