An investigation has been launched after a cash machine blew up at a petrol garage in Purley.

Police arrived at the Esso petrol station in Brighton Road to find an ATM machine had been destroyed at about 4.05am on Friday, February 17.

By the time officers arrived no one was at the scene, a Metropolitan Police spokesman has confirmed.

Officers said they could not say at this stage if any cash was stolen.

One witness, who lives on Brighton Road said she felt her whole house shake after the explosion – about the same time as the incident.

Laura Quinn, 22, said: “I felt the building jolt forward and then a very loud noise. Wind rushed past the windows.

“I was just getting up to get a drink, had just got back into bed when it happened. The drink was spilling out of my hands.”

Did you see or hear what happened? Email sean.morrison@london.newsquest.co.uk