A MASKED gang carried out a raid on a Fairlie petrol station - just days after a similar break-in in Largs.

Fairlie Esso petrol station was broken into overnight between Friday night and Saturday morning, four days after a theft saw groceries and other items taken from a station in Largs.

Police were investigating the Fairlie crime over the weekend and had to leave the village's community council meeting on Monday evening before the start to resume their investigation.

CCTV footage from the incident showed masked raiders entering the premises, it was reported at the community council meeting.

Inspector Colin Convery, of Largs police, said: "We responded to report of a housebreaking at Fairlie Petrol Station on 3 August.

"A quantity of property was stolen and enquiries are ongoing at this time.

"I would appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact ourselves or Crimestoppers.

"At this time there is nothing to link the incident to an incident last week at Castlebay Filling Station in Largs, although this is something being considered as part of our investigations."

A number of raids on petrol stations have taken place across Ayrshire recently, including one at a petrol station in Maybole where the crooks entered via the roof of the station and made of with a significant amount of money.

At this point, there was no confirmation of whether any money was taken during the latest raid at Fairlie.