A SHOP manager has spoken out after callous raiders ripped the front of his store off with a 4x4 vehicle.

It happened at around 10.45pm last night at the 'Your Local' store on Saffron Drive, Allerton.

Pramode Trivedi, 45, who has had the shop for eight years, said: "I shut up the shop and went home, had my meal and went to bed.

"I had my iPad with me and I was watching the CCTV. 

"I saw the 4x4 pull up outside the shop and five of them came out and they broke the shutters with a long piece of wood.

"Somebody slipped into the shop with a chain. I think what they did is tied the chain to the cash machine, then pulled it out with the 4x4. 

"In that process, they brought the front of the shop down."

It comes less than a week after the shop was targeted for cigarettes.

Mr Trivedi said: "I'm very upset, they are cowards. This is my livelihood, I can't go anywhere from here."

He said he believed the cash machine was recovered close by. 

The clean-up operation was still going on this morning, with neighbours and local residents rallying around to help out. 

Councillor Bev Mullaney (Lab, Thornton and Allerton) described a scene of "total devastation".

She said: "He is loved and respected by the whole community. Lots of people have come to help.

"A lot of residents stayed all night to help clear up.

"It's just total devastation. He has been here a lot of years."

She slammed the culprits as having a "lack of respect" and said: "That someone can come in and wreck someone's livelihood, when they have worked so hard."

Cllr Mullaney said she had been in correspondence with the other ward councillors and praised the Council for quickly sending a team out to clean up. 

She added: "My heart goes out to him and his family."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "Police were called at 10.46pm yesterday to a report of an ongoing burglary involving a 4x4 type vehicle at a shop in Saffron Drive, Allerton.

"Officers attended and found damage had been caused to shutters and a cash machine at the premises.

"The vehicle is believed to have driven off towards Oaks Lane.

"Enquiries are at an early stage, but the suspects are believed to have left empty handed."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact Bradford District CID on 101, quoting crime reference 13180120850.

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.