DETECTIVES are appealing for information following a "futile" bid to raid a cashpoint machine at a supermarket.

The offenders tried to get into a Royal Bank of Scotland hole-in-the-wall machine built into the front of the Sainsbury supermarket in Llywelyn Road, Cwmbran, overnight on Tuesday.

But although they caused extensive damage to the front shell of the ATM machine they were unable to access the main cash storage facility.

Store manager Andy Hooper said little disruption had been caused by the incident, with the supermarket's remaining two cashpoints in use.

The damaged machine should be repaired by the end of the week. Mr Hooper branded the theft attempt as "futile".

"People should know by now that you cannot get access to the cashpoints due to the in-built security within the ATM and theft attempts like this are simply futile," he said. "It looks like they've used a mallet or hammer and they have made a hell of a mess and left broken glass and metal.

"But they appear to have realised what they were attempting was pointless and left the other two machines alone.

"Hopefully this will help send out the message that ATM robbery is not a viable crime." A Gwent police spokesman confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident and appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 01633 838999. The spokesman added there was no evidence a vehicle had been used in the theft attempt.