FORENSIC officers have been scouring Winterbourne's High Street this morning after two cash points were blown, with thieves using gas canisters to break open the machines.

It is understood a quantity of cash was stolen in the early morning attacks at the village’s Natwest bank on High Street and the Co-op nearby on Dragon Road.

Explosions are said to have been heard in the area at around 3.30am.

Both machines have been cornered off and are out of use today. Police forensics officers have been in Winterbourne this morning securing the scene and looking for evidence.

It is not known if police are linking the attacks with a spate of cash machine attacks in the area including an explosion at Barclays in Thornbury and an attack on a Bristol Post Office which left the front of the shop badly damaged.

Anyone with any information on the Winterbourne thefts is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 0091 and 0092 of May 5.