POLICE are appealing for witnesses after yobs smashed a cash machine in an attempted raid at a Tesco Express in Weymouth.

Dorset Police were called to the Tesco Express on Lanehouse Rocks Road in Weymouth in the early hours of Saturday morning after a neighbour heard people trying to get into the cash point at the store.

Nothing was taken from the cash point, and the vandals fled before police arrived at the scene, smashing the screen and the fittings of the ATM plus some minor damage to the wall.

Nicci Bedford (corr), store manager at Tesco, said: “The area is covered by CCTV, but the machine could be out of action for up to 10 days as we need to replace it.

“It has caused us a lot of inconvenience, almost every other customer has said something when they have been served at the tills.

“I'd like to say thank you to the neighbour who raised the alarm, we are very grateful to them.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We were called at 3.39am on Saturday, May 31 to a report of an attempted theft at the Tesco Express on Lanehouse Rocks Road in Weymouth.

“They were trying to get into an ATM at the site, but it is believed they did not take anything and just caused damage to the cash point.

“We have not arrested any one yet, and we are appealing for witnesses and anyone who might have information to contact Dorset Police 101 and quote the crime number 31:95.”