THIEVES stole money from a cash machine at a Malvern shop in a smash and grab raid.

The raid happened at Londis convenience store, on the corner of Yates Hay Road and Upper Howsell Road.

Owner Derek Cook was awakened by the alarm company, and rushed to the scene, where he found police cars and fire engines in attendance.

He said: "Instead of attacking the cashpoint machine from the front and trying to pull it out, they broke in through the front door and attacked the machine from the back.

"They must have used an angle grinder or some other kind of cutting tool, and the sparks set fire to the till roll in the machine, which the fire brigade put out.

"I don't know how much money was taken. It was a mess, but we still managed to open up as normal that day."

The raid happened at around 2.30am on Friday, February 2.

He said that as well as breaking into the cash machine, the thieves had made off with the shop's CCTV camera equipment.

A police spokesman said: "Police in Malvern are investigating a burglary at a convenience store in Yates Hay Road, that is reported to have happened around 2.20am on Friday.

"Unknown offenders are believed to have forced entry to the front of the premises, gaining access to an ATM and removing an amount of cash before leaving in an unknown direction.

"Officers have been conducting house to house enquiries and forensic examinations in the area and are appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information.

"All reports of ATM thefts are treated very seriously and anybody who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area over that past few days is asked to call 101 and quote incident number 31s of 2 February."

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org

In April 2017, thieves used a JCB to smash into the post office at Barnards Green to steal a cash machine.

In November 2014, a digger was used to attempt to break into a cash machine at Marks and Spencer on Malvern Retail Park.