This is the scene of devastation left after a village post office was blown up in the latest in a series of 20-plus raids on ATMs in the same area in the past year.
Locals were woken by a huge bang around 2.15am this morning as the blast tore off the front of the shop and left the cash machine a twisted wreck.
Thieves used gas canisters and escaped with an undisclosed quantity of money from the dispenser in Shirehampton, Bristol.
Four months ago a similar raid destroyed the post office in Long Ashton five miles away.
There has also been a spate of other attacks on ATMs in the Avon and Somerset police area since January last year – many involving the use of gas.
Police refused to say how much was taken in the latest raid and whether it was being linked to others.
Avon and Somerset police said: “We can confirm that an ATM at the post office on the parade was targeted overnight and cash was taken.
“It happened at around 2.15am and our enquiries are continuing.”
Officers and forensics teams remained at the cordoned off post office yesterday as gas canister and debris lay strewn across the ground.
