THIEVES broke into a convenience store and stole cigarettes in the early hours of this morning.

Police cordoned off the Co-operative store, in Linden Avenue, Old Basing following the incident at 1.50am.

The offenders forced entry into the shop, which was closed at the time, and stole an unknown amount of cigarettes before leaving.

An investigation has been launched by the police, who are urging anyone who may have seen what happened to contact Basingstoke CID on 101, quoting 44160049536.