POLICE are hunting two men who made off with more than £5,000 in tobacco and booze after a corner shop heist while the owner’s family slept upstairs early today.

Shortly after 4.25am today two raiders smashed through the front door of the Premier convenience store in Queensfield, off Cricklade Road in Stratton, and took all its tobacco and £1,000 in spirits.

Ruban Bavan, who heard nothing as he slept in the flat above the shop with his wife and young child, came down at 6am to discover the front door wide open.

In his year in charge of the shop Mr Bavan has never had to contend with anything similar.

And as he waited for a locksmith yesterday afternoon, he faced the prospect of having to remain in the shop all night to protect the broken door.

“I’m disappointed. This is a lot of money to me and the shop,” he said.

“I don’t know why someone would do this.”

About £200 in cash was also taken from the shop’s tills. Mr Bavan must also look into the cost of securing new shutters for his premises to protect it from any future attempts.

Wiltshire Police is appealing for information from members of the public in order to apprehend these two men.

A spokeswoman said: “Between approximately 4.25am and 4.35am, two men broke into the Premier shop in Queensfield.

“Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol were taken, as well as cash from the till.

"The first man is described as white, wearing a black hoodie with two white stripes down both arms and white writing across the front, a white belt with black holes, black gloves and white trainers with a black and white pattern on the soles.

“The second man is described as white, of slim build, wearing a black Puffa-style jacket with the hood up, light grey gloves, black jeans and black trainers.”