THOUSANDS of pounds were stolen from a cash machine overnight after thieves used gas cylinders to blow up an Accrington ATM.

Although a figure has not yet been confirmed, it is estimated that the thieves made off with tens of thousands of pounds from a cash machine located at the Post Office in Avenue Parade.

The suspects, thought to be four men, escaped from the scene in a stolen BMW which was later found by officers in Clayton-Le-Moors.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "There was an attack on the Post Office in Avenue Parade in Accrington at about 4.50am.

"The suspects have used an angle grinder to cut through the shutters and have then used gas cylinders to blow up the cash machine.

"Although not confirmed, they have made off with a large sum of money."

Anybody with any information is urged to contact the police on 101 quoting crime reference number 283 of October 7.