A NEWSAGENT targeted by ram-raiders twice in the space of two weeks has described the crimes as a shocking start to the New Year.

Julie Thirsk, manager of Maynews, in Stamford Bridge, was awoken at about 3.40am on New Year's Eve after ram-raiders triggered a burglar alarm when they forced their way into the shop and helped themselves to cigarettes and chocolate.

Ram-raiders also targeted the shop in The Square overnight on December 16-17, driving a vehicle into the same front door of the building to steal cigarettes, causing substantial damage. Julie said: "It was a brand new door, put in after the last burglary,.

"It is not the best New Year's present I could have asked for.

"It is supposed to be a quiet village. A lot of people are shocked about it. Customers coming in can't believe it."

Julie said it is the fourth burglary at the shop in the last few months, as there were also two break-ins in September.

In both cases, on the evenings of September 10 and 30, windows were smashed and cigarettes stolen.

"We had shutter installed on the inside of the windows and metal barriers put on the door," she said.

"We are not sure at the moment if it is the same people, but each time it is a similar kind of thing."

She said the company would now be applying to have bollards placed outside the shop and shutters fitted on the outside of the building.

Humberside Police believe the latest burglary may be linked to the theft of a white Vauxhall Astra taken from the driveway of a house in Fossway, Stamford Bridge, just after 3am on Friday.

A police spokeswoman said investigating officers had alerted North Yorkshire Police to be on the look-out for the vehicle.

There have been no arrests made in connection with the four burglaries.

Updated: 09:41 Monday, January 03, 2005