A cash machine stolen in a ram raid on a town centre bank has been found smashed open and empty in a field.

The machine, which held up to £30,000, was stolen by raiders who drove a digger into the HSBC Bank in High Street, Steyning, in the early hours of Saturday, September 10.

It was found by a dog walker more than 20 miles away in a farmer's field off Wallage Lane, Crawley Down, at lunchtime on Monday.

The machine had been loaded on to a red Toyota flat bed truck, registration number E22 SKL.

The raiders left the digger in the middle of Steyning High Street with its engine running and the shattered glass frontage of the cash machine lying in the road.

It is being examined by forensics experts.

Detective Inspector Jo Wainwright, of Horsham CID, said: "This is obviously a significant move forward in the investigation. We are appealing for anyone who might have been in the vicinity in the early hours of October 10, possibly on their way to Gatwick, who might have seen the red pick-up truck."

HSBC is a member of the rewards scheme run by the British Bankers Association, which pays up to £15,000 to any member of the public who provides information leading to the conviction of people involved in serious crimes against the bank.

The HSBC underwent temporary repairs and it was open two days after the raid.

The thieves, believed to be two men, first stole the digger from a construction site at nearby Steyning Grammar School.

They drove it up High Street, waking residents, and used the vehicle's bucket to rip the cash machine from the wall, taking out the entire frontage in the process.

It is believed the men used a circular route around the town using King's Barn Lane to make their getaway before going north to Crawley Down, where it is believed they smashed the machine open.

Anyone with information should ring Horsham CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.