An audacious gang of thieves tunnelled 50ft underground and plundered thousands of pounds from a cash machine.

The daring raid took place overnight at the cash machine at Tesco on Liverpool Road in Eccles .

The crooks spent months tunnelling under wasteland and into the supermarket before completing their crime.

They burrowed into the shop overnight on Friday, March 14 and stole cash boxes from the ATM, then disappeared back through the tunnel and escaped.

Detectives believe the gang spent several months digging the tunnel, because of the amount of planning involved and the complex nature of the tunnel structure.

(Image: Google)

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.

"You may have seen people acting suspiciously on Friday night, possible covered in soil.

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

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5353 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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