Petrol station
The petrol station moments after thieves blow up a cash machine to steal the money inside.

Hampshire police are on the hunt for a gang of thieves who blew up an ATM machine in a petrol station forcecourt.

CCTV footage released online captures the moment the quiet forecourt of a Texaco garage in Weyhill, Hampshire, burst into flames.

Officers were called to the petrol station in the early hours after a neighbour raised the alarm. Police found the standalone cashpoint machine had been blown open and its contents - an unspecified amount of cash - stolen.

The explosion could have killed, police said.

Det Chief Insp Stuart Murray said: "Although this was a relatively contained explosion and no-one was injured, the unpredictable nature of this type of offence means we could easily have been dealing with serious injury or death.

"By showing this CCTV footage, we hope it highlights how potentially dangerous an explosion of this type can be."

He added: "If you notice anything unusual [at an ATM machine], or see any wires or cables running from the machine, do not attempt to touch it and call the police immediately."

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact police.