THIEVES blew up a cashpoint outside Barclays bank in Thornbury this morning. 


Police and four fire engines were called to a fire at the bank in the High Street at 3.45am this morning. 


It is believed a cashpoint outside the bank was blown up using gas canisters, setting fire to the ground floor of the building.


Two crews from Thornbury along with a crew from Patchway and Southmead fire stations were alerted to the incident.


Six firefighters in breathing apparatus tackled the fire on the ground floor, and smoke also affected the first floor of the two storey building. 


Crews used hose reels to extinguish the fire and a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear smoke.


Shops around the bank are open as usual, while Barclays staff are waiting outside the bank as police investigate the scene.


A Barclays spokeswoman told the Gazette: "The attack on the cash machine at our Thornbury branch has caused extensive damage to the building and we have engineers on their way to the site to assess the extent of the damage. 


“We will work hard to reopen as soon as possible but at this early stage it is not possible to say when this will be.

“We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by this temporary closure. Our nearest branches are in Yate, Patchway and Wotton-under-Edge."


An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “We were called at 3.45am to reports of a fire at an ATM on the high street. 


“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time or who has information to contact us on 101, quoting log number 79, October 28.”


Read tomorrow’s Thornbury Gazette for the full report.