RAM-RAIDERS left this mound of rubble when they stormed into a garage on a stolen seven-tonne digger before smashing and grabbing a cash machine.

The giant yellow Matbro digger, which had been stolen from a field several miles away, all but demolished the brick structure housing the HSBC ATM machine at the York Road Garage on the A19, at Escrick.

The raid took place at about 2.20am yesterday, when the garage owner woke up to hear the noise of smashing bricks and a revving digger engine.

He saw three men wearing balaclava helmets leave the scene in what is believed to be a blue hatchback car.

The cash machine was later found dumped at a farm in Moor Lane, at Ryther, near Cawood village.

Details of exactly how much money was stolen have not emerged, but DC Ian Murray, from York CID, who is investigating the raid, said it was "a considerable amount".

"This has the hallmarks of a sophisticated and determined raid to steal something of high value," said DC Murray.

Police cordoned off the crime-scene at the garage while they investigated.

The digger, abandoned at the scene, was recovered for tests.

Detectives were also examining CCTV footage.

The digger had been stolen from a field near Sparrow Hall Farm in Wheldrake Lane, which is owned by a local farmer who only learned of the theft when officers called him yesterday.

"I just didn't think that sort of thing happened round here," said the farmer, who asked not to be named.

"You get the feeling the people who took it have quite a lot of experience and knowledge of this machinery - they managed to operate it and remove the attachment it had on."

The farmer last saw his digger, which he said was worth thousands, on New Year's Eve.

Its specialist sugar beet attachment, which weighed about half a tonne, had been left in the field.

Now police want to hear from anyone who had

seen the machine since Saturday.

DC Murray said: "We are asking for assistance from the public. Inquiries are at an early stage.

"Anyone who has knowledge or information concerning the movements of that agricultural machinery after December 31 would be useful to us."

Officers also want anyone who spotted suspicious vehicles in the Ryther area yesterday to contact them. Witnesses are asked to call York CID on 0845 6060247.

No one has yet been arrested.

Updated: 10:13 Friday, January 06, 2006