50ft tunnel
Police think the thieves spent months digging the complex tunnel GMP

Thieves in Salford have managed to steal a "significant amount" of money from a cash machine after digging a 50ft tunnel underneath a supermarket.

Police said the gang must have spent months digging the tunnel beneath wasteland in Eccles, Salford, and into a Tesco store.

From there, the gang were able to steal cash boxes from the machines before making their way back through the tunnel as part of the elaborate scheme.

The theft happened between midnight and 6am on Friday 14 March. Police are now appealing for witnesses, particularly if anyone in the area appeared to be "covered in soil".

50ft tunnel
The tunnel went beneath the Tesco supermarket on Liverpool Road, Eccles GMP

DS Mark Toker from Salford Division said: "These people had obviously spent a long time plotting this crime and I doubt they would have been able to keep their plans secret for all that time, without telling others about their elaborate scheme.

"The offenders must have spent long periods of time in the area over the last few months, which people may have noticed.

"I would ask anyone with any information about the robbery to call us as soon as possible."