A CASH card scanner designed to help criminals steal thousands of pounds from unsuspecting ATM customers has been found in Asda Accrington.

Police were alerted to the device on Saturday 13 June after it was discovered by an ATM security guards at the Hyndburn Road store.

Detectives are now urging the thousands of Hyndburn residents who have used the Nationwide ATM at the store to check their accounts for anything suspicious.

Police are investigating the possibility that a number of cards have been cloned and are urging anyone who has used the cash machine in the weeks leading up to Saturday 13 June, to check bank statements and contact their local branch if they spot anything irregular.

Detective Sergeant Mark Gillibrand from Accrington CID said: "I urge anyone who has used this cash machine in the past couple of weeks prior to Saturday 13 June to check their statements carefully and report any irregularities to their bank.

"I also ask all cash machine users to be extra cautious and to report anything suspicious. If they spot something different about the cash machine then they should contact their branch immediately or, out of banking hours, ring the police."

He also warned residents not to accept help from "well-meaning" strangers or to allow themselves to be distracted while typing in their pin number.

Mark Dinbleby, Asda Accrington store manager, said: "This is a very unfortunate find, but the store does not manage the cash machines personally. The equipment fitted did look very professional and ever since the police alerted us to this we have decided to check the machines as part of daily procedures.

"All our staff have been trained on what to look for to prevent these devices being fitted in store again."