Police have arrested eight men over a series of raids on cash machines across Scotland and England.

ATMs were targeted in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Perth, as well as six towns and cities in England between February 2015 and January 2016.

It is claimed high-powered saws were used to gain entry to shops with freestanding cash machines.

In other incidents, it is alleged cash machines were blown up from the inside using pressurised gas piped in by rubber tubes.

Merseyside Police officers carried out a series of dawn raids in St Helens, Huyton, Wavertree, and Prescot on Tuesday morning with the help of Police Scotland.

Eight men aged between 27 and 41 are being questioned by detectives from Titan, the organised crime unit in north west England.

Three will be interviewed on suspicion of conspiracy to cause an explosion and conspiracy to burgle commercial premises.

Detective chief inspector Alex Dowall from Police Scotland said: "These arrests follow an unprecedented level of joint working between Police Scotland and Titan in what is a complex investigation involving specialist resources.

"Crimes of this nature are rare but impact on our local communities and these communities can be reassured that Police Scotland will use every resource available as apart of our commitment to keeping people safe."