Bank badly damaged as ATM stolen

The cash machine was removed from a bank on Ballygawley's Main Street

Thieves have stolen a cash machine from a bank in Ballygawley, County Tyrone - the latest in a series of ATM thefts.

It happened on Main Street at about 0300 GMT. The bank - the only one in the village - was badly damaged and will be closed for at least a week.

This latest incident follows a spate of attempts to steal ATMs across Northern Ireland in recent weeks.

Cash machine operator LINK is offering a reward of up to £25,000 to anyone who can help catch robbers targeting ATMs.

On 21 October, thieves used a digger to try to steal a cash machine from a shop in Ardglass, County Down.

The ATM had been removed from the wall but was left at the scene.

Earlier that week, a similar attempt was made in Moy, County Tyrone, while a cash machine was stolen from a petrol station in Warrenpoint, County Down.

Businesses in Newtownbutler and Ardboe have also had cash machines stolen.

Fourteen ATMs have been stolen in Northern Ireland since March.

A number of robberies involved the use of heavy machinery.