POLICE are investigating an attempted burglary at a Southampton convenience store.

Officers say the offenders smashed their way into the Co-op in Nursling Street, Nursling, but fled empty-handed, leaving "items" behind.

A stolen car was found abandoned nearby and was taken away for forensic examination.

It is not known if the vehicle was connected to the attempted burglary, which occurred just after 4am on Wednesday.

A police spokeswoman said officers were called by the shop's alarm company.

She said the front doors were forced open. Entry was gained and damage caused but the offenders left the scene, leaving items behind.      

The shop is currently closed and police are searching for any forensic evidence inside the building.

The bottom half of the shop's glass front door was smashed in the incident.

A piece of shattered glass is lying on the ground, just beyond a police cordon which stretches across the door, a neighbouring cash machine and the shop's front window.

Two police vehicles - a car and a van - are parked in a lay-by outside the end-of-terrace shop.  

Peope living nearby said they understood that nothing had been stolen.

One woman said criminals had targeted the shop several times in the past 12 months.

She added: "This is the first time in a while that they've gone to the store when there was no-one at the premises."  

Staff declined to make any comment.