PEOPLE wanting to use a cash machine in a town centre got an unpleasant surprise this morning after vandals smothered the ATM in what appeared to be milk shake.

The machine outside the Post Office in Kendal's Stricklandgate was covered in the stale smelling thick liquid with the screen unreadable and card slot blocked.

One woman who tried to use the machine said: "It's a disgrace. Why on earth would anyone do such a thing?"

While there are several other cash machines in Kendal town centre but the Post Office ATM is the only place where people with a Post Office account can use their cards.