A MAN had to be rescued by firefighters after he became trapped in a cash machine.

The 51-year-old arrived at the machine with colleagues to replenish the money at about noon yesterday.

The procedure for workers is to climb inside the 8ft device and lock themselves in.

This is normally to prevent attacks and thefts, but one of the men became trapped inside for more than half an hour.

As desperate colleagues struggled with the machine, in Ormesby High Street, near Middlesbrough, onlookers gathered to watch.

When the workers failed to free the man, they called firefighters, who were equally baffled by the device.

Richie Burnicle, the watch manager at Coulby Newham fire station, said: "When we first arrived on scene, we did not know what to use to get this guy out.

"I have never seen a cash dispenser like it and certainly have not dealt with someone trapped inside one. It was definitely a bizarre rescue, but one I wish not to repeat."

Officers attended from Coulby Newham station, and Mr Burnicle also drafted in the heavy rescue crew from Stockton.

Officers managed to use a hand-held hammer to free the door's mechanism, which was stuck.

Mr Burnicle said: "His colleagues had tried from the outside to open it with a key, but for security reasons, the machine locks to prevent any thefts.

"He was in there for no more than 40 minutes and he was certainly flustered when we finally got him out."

Passer-by Clare Stanyard said: "A crowd started gathering when the fire engines arrived and everyone was having a giggle. But we did feel sorry for him, being stuck in such a small space for over half an hour."