Raiders trigger gas explosion to open Spalding ATM

Raiders triggered a gas explosion to force open an ATM at a Spalding shop in the early hours of Saturday.

Four men escaped with cash and are believed to have used a silver VW Golf to flee the Costcutter Late Shopper on Holbeach Road.

The explosion at around 2.45am woke residents up to a mile away and caused extensive damage outside and inside the shop as glass and metal flew everywhere.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “A Costcutter store on Holbeach Road, Spalding, had its ATM targeted at around 2.45am (on Saturday).

“A vehicle, believed to be a silver VW Golf containing four men made off in the direction of the A16/A151 roundabout.

“If anyone saw anything, please contact us on 101.”

Anyone with information should quote incident number incident 39 of January 5.

There was extensive damage inside the shop, but store boss Ranjit Khela, who runs the business with his brother, Bill, said they reopened for business in the early afternoon.

* See tomorrow's Free Press for more on the raid.