A KIOSK containing a cash machine was blown apart in an early morning raid at a village shop.

It is thought that gas cylinders were used to blow open the small structure on the site of the Co-Op food store in Steeton, a short distance from Airedale Hospital, and the blast also destroyed the cash machine.

People living near the store have described being woken up by a “huge explosion” just after 2am, before seeing a car speeding away from the scene.

It is the second time this month raiders have targeted a cash machine based at a Co-Op in the area.

Police remained at the scene, in the Co-op’s front car park, off Skipton Road, much of this morning.

The aftermath of the explosion was obvious, with destroyed machinery and electronics visible inside the shattered white kiosk, which appeared to have been blown apart.

Pieces of the structure could be seen scattered some distance away, showing the violence of the explosion.

But despite the destruction, nobody was injured.

Police are currently investigating the incident, and have now appealed for anyone who has any information about the raiders or the car they were driving to come forward.

After hearing about what had happened, Christine Jones, 67, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 12 years, said: “I was just woken up by this big bang. I sleep at the back of the house where it’s normally quiet.

“I thought someone had crashed into something.”

Another woman who lives nearby, but did not want to be named, said she had been awake in the early hours of the morning due to back pain.

“I heard a really loud bang between 2.13am, and 2.15am,” she said.

“I went to the window and saw this large, dark coloured car speeding off towards Keighley. An alarm had started going off.

“I immediately rang 999. I told my mum that someone had probably broken into the Co-op”.

Two men living in separate homes close to the scene, neither of whom wished to be named either, also spoke of being woken up by the raid.

One of these residents added he thought it had been a gas explosion.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Police are investigating an incident where a cash machine was badly damaged overnight.

“At 2.16am officers were called out following reports of an explosion and a car driving away from the scene at speed.

“No injuries have been reported.

“Bradford District CID is continuing enquiries and anyone with information has been asked to contact 101, quoting log 126.”

A spokesman for the Co-op said: “An incident involving an ATM occurred at our Steeton store on Skipton Road in the early hours of Thursday morning. The Co-op takes retail crime very seriously, and implements a range of measures to both deter criminal activity and to aid convictions, and we appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

“The store is open as usual to serve the local community.”

Neither the police nor the Co-Op were able to confirm reports that gas cylinders were used to blow the kiosk apart.

A spokesman for Cashzone, which operates ATMs at Co-Op stores, said: “As this is an ongoing police investigation we are unfortunately not able to give any more information at this stage.”

Craven ward councillor, Adrian Naylor (Cons), was alerted to the incident by a phone call from the police.

“They said the cash machine had been attacked – they weren’t sure if explosives had been used – and that detectives were at the scene,” he said.

“I’m shocked at the incident but also concerned that criminals have decided to target ATMs without thought for other people’s safety, especially if explosives are being used.”

On November 10 a Co-op store on Greenside Lane in Cullingworth was targeted by thieves who are thought to have used explosives to destroy a cash machine fixed to the building.

That incident, which took place shortly after midnight, caused major damage to one of the store’s walls.

Police today told the Telegraph & Argus that inquiries into that incident are still ongoing.