An eyewitness says he was almost struck by part of a stolen cash machine as it was towed away using chains by ram-raiders in a 4x4 vehicle.

The man said the raiders pulled up in a Mitsubishi Shogun at the Aldi supermarket in Leeds Road, Shipley, just before 11.30pm on Thursday, before using the vehicle to smash a hole in the shop’s stone wall.

He was outside the McDonald’s restaurant next to the supermarket at the time, and said he saw the whole event unfold.

The onlooker, who did not wish to be named, described seeing men in balaclavas with sledgehammers get out of the car. He helped raise the alarm when he realised what was happening.

“I was outside when I heard a car pull up, a red-coloured Mitsubishi Shogun,” he said.

“Some lads all in balaclavas jumped out, some with sledgehammers.

“It took them about six goes to smash through the wall, and then they took the cash machine that is inside.

“It took them a couple of tries to get it out, and they used a saw to cut through the wires.

“Then they chained it to the Shogun and took off, crashing into a bollard on the way out before taking off with a Land Rover Freelander which was waiting in the road.

“They dragged the cash machine behind them, it almost hit me as it swung round as they turned.

“A mobile phone was left at the scene and so was a sledgehammer which the police have taken.

“I ran inside McDonald’s to the manager and said ‘there’s a burglary taking place’ and she rang the police straight away.

“I heard them go past chasing the cars, then they arrived at Aldi about 30 minutes later. I’d say the whole thing lasted about eight minutes.”

Police are appealing for further witnesses following the ram raid.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the incident took place at 11.29pm, and involved a maroon and silver Shogun and a dark coloured Land Rover Freelander.

He said the Shogun was used to gain entry to the store, and three or four people then got out and stole a cash machine from the building, before driving off on Leeds Road in an easterly direction.

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Bradford CID, said: “I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident or has information about it to come forward.

“Although it happened late at night the store is in a busy part of Shipley and this incident will have made a lot of noise.

“I would urge anyone who saw or perhaps heard anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the incident or who saw the vehicles before or after the ram-raid is asked to call police on 101, quoting crime reference number 13180100947.

The Aldi was open as normal on Friday morning, with the large hole boarded up, and the front section of the stolen cash machine lying on the floor.

A spokesperson for Aldi said the supermarket did not wish to comment on the incident.

One shopper, Susan Lund, of Shipley, said she was “very shocked” by the raid.

She said: “I would not expect this to happen in Shipley.

“The town has its problems but this is the first time I have heard of anything like this happening in the area."