ARRESTS have been made in a spate of ATM raids across the UK, two months after raiders attempted to blow up a West Swindon cashpoint.

Eight men have been arrested after cash machines in England and Scotland came under attack by criminals who used explosives or dragged them out of stores using a car and rope.

The men, aged between 27 and 41, remain in custody.

In April, thieves attempted to blast their way into a HSBC Bank ATM at the Delta Office Park branch.

It is believed the thieves were in the process of pumping gas into the machine in an effort to blow the back door off when the blast happened.

The explosion, which happened at 2.30am, triggered the bank's alarm system and police were on the scene within minutes.

It is not yet clear how far into the act the thieves had got before the explosion in this instance.

Detective Sergeant Gareth Kitchener said at the time: "The explosion was caused due to a build-up of excess gas in the top compartment of the ATM. “

The force of the blast destroyed the front of the cash machine, melting some of its enclosure.

It also caused significant damage inside the branch.

Two of the reinforced windows in the main door were blown inwards and fire damage can be seen above and around the cash machine itself.

Last month a 21-year-old man from Knowle, Bristol was arrested in connection with raids on cash machines in Swindon and Bristol.

The man remains on police bail pending further enquiries.

Raiders have also struck in the Thames Valley area, Merseyside, Gloucester, Reading, Cheshire, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire.

Police Scotland and Titan, north-west England’s organised crime unit have been investigating nine ATM attacks between February 2015 and January 2016.

On Tuesday (JUNE 28) three men from Merseyside were arrested following search warrants in St Helens, Huyton, Prescot and Wavertree.

A further five men, three from Merseyside and two from Leigh, Greater Manchester and Birmingham were arrested at various UK prisons in connection with the ATM offences.

Gas explosions at ATMs have become more common in recent years, with thieves exploiting a weakness in the rear door of the machines to carry out the attacks.

By pumping gas through the cash withdrawal slot, they increase the pressure to such an extent that, in theory, the main door inside the branch will be blown open to reveal the money.