THIS is the moment raiders blew up a cashpoint machine in a daring early morning attack on a filling station forecourt.

Neighbours were woken by a loud explosion when the criminals struck at Esso's Highland Service Station in Ashley Road, Poole, at 3.20am yesterday.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows three figures connecting a gas bottle to the stand-alone LINK machine just outside the garage's shop.

A cyclist is then seen to veer to the wrong side of the road before the CCTV zooms in on the wrecked cashpoint machine.

The footage, taken from high-quality CCTV at nearby Ashley Security, also shows a car driving off from the scene at speed.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward – and they are particularly keen to speak to the cyclist seen on Ashley Road at the time of the incident.

Detective Inspector Steve Symms, of Bournemouth CID, said: “The potential consequences of something exploding on a petrol station forecourt cannot be underestimated.

“Following enquiries we have identified a small dark-coloured vehicle that was near to the garage around the time of the offence. I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the vehicle or the occupants.

“I would also like to speak to a cyclist who was seen cycling down Ashley Road just after the offence as they may be able to assist me with my enquiries.

“Anyone with any information about the incident should contact me, in confidence, on 101.”

Neighbour Tony Golding said: "I was just getting up, because I have an early morning job, when I heard a really loud bang. At first I thought something had fallen in the house, but then I saw the police at the garage."

His wife, Jeanette, added: "The first I knew of it was when the dog jumped up on the bed because he was scared, like he does on fireworks night."

Yann Maciejewski, the engineering manager at Ashley Security, said: "I heard about the raid through the Daily Echo and decided to have a look to see if we had it on camera.

"The images show a gas bottle and it looks like someone is pouring something into the cashpoint machine. I hope the CCTV helps to catch them."

Police confirmed that they were called to 3.20am. The scene was cordoned off and Crime Scene Investigators carried out a detailed examination of the machine and surrounding area.

The front of the machine was blown about 20 feet across the forecourt, exposing in the inner works of the cashpoint. No money was stolen because the cash department remained intact.

A spokesman for Esso said: "The ATM at the Highland Service Station in Poole was damaged during a raid in the early hours of this morning.

"We are co-operating with the police in their search for those responsible. We can also confirm that no-one was hurt in the incident and that the service station has now reopened for business."

The explosion is the latest in a series of similar incidents, mainly in mainland Europe where gangs have been using gas attacks to gain access to cashpoints for several years.

It is still relatively new to the UK, but earlier this year raiders targeted a Barclays Bank in Burnley in Lancashire, making off with up to £100,000.

Police investigating the Burnley attack said the method involves inserting a tube into the cash dispenser, flooding it with a combustible gas from a canister, then activating a trigger device.