A PETROL station on a busy crossroads west of Petersfield has been left seriously damaged by thieves who attempted to rip out a cashpoint with a digger.

Thieves left a pile of rubble in their wake after failing to remove the cash machine from the West Meon Hut BP station early yesterday (Tuesday) morning.

The incident at 3.30am caused “significant structural damage” which will cost tens of thousands of pounds to repair but the culprits left empty handed.

Police scoured the scene for clues for much of the morning but it was a case of business as usual at the adjoining Budgens, which remains open to customers.

Although they have not been officially linked by the police, the incident was the latest in a series of attempted cash machine thefts in Hampshire, as ATMs in Bordon, Liphook, Odiham, Lindford and Bishop’s Waltham have all been targeted in recent months.

Thieves also pocketed more than £1,000 on June 20 when they stole a cash machine after breaking into the Treloar College site in Holybourne, near Alton.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the attempt at the West Meon Hut should call Winchester Police on 101 quoting 44180258801 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.