A BANK will remain closed for several weeks after two men blew up its cash machine, stole the money inside and set fire to the building in Thornbury.

The thieves, who are thought to have used gas cylinders to cause the explosion, set fire to the ground floor of the Barclays building in High Street.

The bank was cordoned off on the day of the incident, Wednesday, October 28, and remains closed as investigations are underway.

It is not expected to reopen for several weeks.

A Barclays spokeswoman told the Gazette: “The attack on the cash machine at our Thornbury branch has caused extensive damage to the building. 

“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 - I understand a matter of weeks rather than days.

“We’re doing everything we can to get things up and running again. In the meantime, please accept our apologies.

"The three staff working at the branch have been relocated to Yate and Patchway branches whilst it remains closed."

Police confirmed a ‘large quantity’ of money was stolen from the cash machine during the incident, before the thieves escaped the scene on mopeds, but Barclays is unable to comment on exactly how much was taken.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman told the Gazette: "We are in the process of trying to retrieve CCTV images in the hope of identifying the suspects."

The High Street was closed for several hours last week as firefighters from Thornbury, Patchway and Southmead fire stations tackled the blaze.

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.

Police are asking anyone who was in the area at the time, or has any information about the incident, to call 101 quoting log number 79 of October 28. 

The nearest Barclays branches are in Yate, Patchway, Wotton-under-Edge, Dursley and Avonmouth.