CLANFIELD Co-op may reopen on Sunday after raiders smashed a wall in with a stolen forklift to steal an ATM cash point.

The raid happened at about 3.30am this morning (Friday, July 28) and after it the thieves set fire to the Manitou forklift in the shop car park.

It’s understood that as well as losing half its outside wall, an inside wall was pushed back into the shop in White Dirt Lane by the force with which the forklift hit the two-story building.

A spokesman for Co-op Southern said: "We can confirm that we are currently working towards opening the store on Sunday, July 29. We would like to thank customers for their understanding."The news released by the Co-op follows earlier fears it may not have re-opened for sometime. Within hours of the raid, a Co-op Southern spokesman was very downbeat about a reopening date, saying no date could be given.

She added that the building would need a survey and then any repair work would be done. The force of the impact left a huge hole in the wall next to the shop entrance, and rubble was scattered across the car when the ATM was dragged from the wall.

The forklift was then set on fire – fire fighters from Cosham had the blaze extinguished by 4.30am.

Glasstec Window and Conservatory Centre next to the Co-op is also likely to remain closed to early next week, due to the possibility of damage.

In the meantime its sister store in The Old Post Office, Hambledon Road, Denmead, will be able to help with customer queries, said Alan Hudson of the company.

It is unclear how much money was in the Co-op ATM, and police are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen a white vehicle speeding off.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 quoting 44180283769.Police are also looking at the possibility the raid is linked to another one earlier in the morning. A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "At about 2.15am windows were smashed in the Horizon Liesure Centre in Waterberry Drive and cash was stolen from a cash point machine inside."We are looking at both incidents to see if they are linked." Anyone with any information on the liesure centre raid is asked to call police on 101 quoting 44180283744.