RAIDERS used gas cannisters to blow up a cash machine in Burnley, in what was thought to be the first incident of its kind in East Lancashire.

Police could not confirm how much money was stolen after the early morning explosion at Barclays Bank, on Colne Road, yesterday but the machine is thought to hold up to £100,000.

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The technique, known as an ‘ATM gas attack’, has been used by criminals in mainland Europe for several years, but is still relatively new to Britain.

It typically involves inserting a tube through the cash dispenser and flooding the ATM with a combustible gas, before a trigger device is activated.

Police were yesterday trying to establish whether CCTV evidence was available. Witnesses saw three men driving off from the scene in an estate vehicle, possibly an Audi.

Inspector John Fryer said: “It was a massive explosion and has done a lot of damage.

“This is quite a new phenomenon in the last 12 months or so and is becoming more and more common. It’s quite worrying that we’ve now had one in Burnley as it means there could be people operating in this area now.”

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He said the explosion was only supposed to blow a front section of the machine open, to allow access to the cash containers, but the raiders used ‘way too much gas’.

The back of the machine also blew apart, as well as the glass door to the branch.

One neighbouring shop worker, who asked not to be named, said: “It probably wasn’t anyone local.

“It seems like they’ve planned it out but it’s worrying that things like this are happening. It’s not good for anyone.”

John Morini, who works at Deborah Jane’s Sandwich Bar, which is next door, said: “We’ve been here for seven years and things like this don’t worry us. Nearly every building has been broken into down here.”

Police said no-one appeared to have been hurt in the incident, although council officers were at the scene yesterday to check for any damage to the building.

A spokesman for Barclays said: “We are aware of the incident and will cooperate fully with the police inquiry.”

Det Insp Nick Hodgeson, of Burnley Police, said: “We are in the early stages of this inquiry and I would appeal for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area at the time or anyone who has any information to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0199 of January 4.

Last week, police in Australia released astonishing CCTV footage of a would-be thief blowing up a cash machine outside Darwin.

The device exploded before the man could move away and knocked him over. He fell to the ground a few feet back, yet appeared relatively unhurt and ran off.