WOULD-BE robbers came up against more than they bargained for when they tried to break into Ladbrokes in Dorchester.

The culprits attempted to enter the South Street bookie's premises by removing bricks from a back wall. But after discovering a layer of breeze blocks behind the bricks, they gave up and fled.

Neighbouring traders said the attempted break-in underlined the need for CCTV cameras to be installed in Dorchester.

Sergeant Steve Bullock of Dorchester police said: "The thieves removed 30 bricks and tried to climb in but were met by a layer of breeze blocks."

A spokesman for Ladbrokes said: "It is an interesting method of trying to break in. Burglaries in betting shops are declining because of the increase in security systems that we have installed. We do not know why they attempted to break in or why they stopped. Maybe they were scared off."

The bricks were discovered on Tuesday by owner of The Conservatory, Martin Haley, whose shop backs on to the alley behind Ladbrokes.

He said: "Before starting on the wall, they cut through my storage cage with bolt croppers. There was a great big pile of bricks lying there the next morning. They got up to the concrete wall and then they had a go with the hammer and chisel, but they gave up."

He said the crime was the latest in the town to create a feeling of insecurity among traders. In the past year stores have been ram-raided for cash and hit by repeated shoplifters.

Mr Haley said: "We know we get more crime now in Dorchester. We need CCTV to be installed as soon as possible to prevent crimes like this taking place."

Owner of neighbouring butcher The Fantastic Sausage Factory, Dennis Spurr, said: "It is ridiculous that people can break a hole in a wall and no-one hears anything. Those bricks were not going to come away easily. It shows we should have CCTV and more bobbies on the beat in Dorchester to stop this kind of thing."