THIS dramatic footage captures the moment masked raiders smashed their way into a cashpoint.

Sparks are flying as a group of people surround the Co-op ATM, in Tang Hall Lane, York, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

A witness said he heard a big bang and saw smoke everywhere.

He said: "I noticed a group of people acting suspiciously about 20 minutes before the event.

"They seemed to be putting tools into the back of the van.

"Suddenly there was a big bang, followed by sparks flying everywhere.

"There was a lot of smoke and I could see people looking out of their windows at what was going on.

"They seemed to be using some sort of axe grinder to break into the cash machine.

"They were all dressed in balaclavas and tracksuits, it was like something from the TV show Crimewatch."

Another eyewitness from Lang Avenue said that the group smashed the cash machine and then cut their way through nearby shutters leaving a hole.

He said: "It woke me up it was so loud.

"My neighbour slept through the whole thing, I am not sure how.

"They cut their way through and then sped down the street to turn around and headed off down Tang Hall Lane."

Another resident said it sounded 'like a bomb had gone off.' 

Police said they were quickly on the scene but offenders left in a dark Audi towards Heworth and out of town.