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

It is thought gas cylinders were used to rip open the freestanding structure on the site of the Co-op food store in Steeton, a short distance from Airedale Hospital.

The force of the blast also destroyed the cash machine.

People living near the store in Skipton Road described being woken by a “huge explosion” shortly after 2am yesterday.

One resident reported seeing a large dark coloured car speeding away from the scene.

It is the second time this month raiders have blown up a cash machine at a Co-op store in the area.

Police remained at the scene of the latest raid for much of yesterday morning.

Destroyed machinery and electronics could be seen inside the shattered white kiosk with pieces of the structure scattered some distance away, suggesting the violence of the explosion.

Police have appealed for anyone who has information about the raiders or the getaway car to come forward.

Christine Jones, 67, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 12 years, said: “I was just woken 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 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 wanted to be named, also spoke of being woken by the raid.

One of them said 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 inquiries and anyone with information has been asked to contact 101, quoting log 126.”

A Co-op spokesman urged anyone with information about the attack to contact police.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor (Con, Craven), said he 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 in Greenside Lane in Cullingworth was targeted by thieves who are thought to have used explosives to destroy a cash machine built into a wall of the building.

That incident, which took place shortly after midnight, caused major damage to the wall, a section of the roof and facade.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman yesterday told the Telegraph & Argus that inquiries into that raid were continuing.

The spokesman was unable to say if the two incidents were being linked.