A man has been charged following an alleged robbery and attempted robbery at two cash machines in Blackburn.

Mameaz Ali, 35 of Pemberton Street, Blackburn has been charged with robbery and attempted robbery in connection to the incidents earlier this week.

The first incident happened at around 5.45pm on Tuesday, October 4, when a man approached a woman who was taking cash out of the ATM in Darwen Street.

It's alleged he grabbed her arm whilst trying to steal the money but left empty handed.

Later that evening, its alleged snatched £50 out of a man’s hands by reaching over his shoulder at a Tesco Express cash machine in Whalley New Road.

A spokesperson for the police said: “A man’s been charged following a robbery and an attempted robbery at two ATM machines in Blackburn.

“We were called to Darwen Street at around 5.45pm on Tuesday, October 4. It was reported a woman was withdrawing cash when she was approached by a man who attempted to reach over her shoulder, grabbing her arm, whilst trying to steal the money. He left empty handed.

“At 7.20pm, we were called to the Tesco Express store in Whalley New Road after reports a man had been withdrawing £50 from a cash point when someone reached over his shoulder and snatched it from his hands.

“Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Mameaz Ali, 35, of Pemberton Street, Blackburn has been charged with robbery and attempted robbery.

“He was remanded into custody to appeal before Blackburn Magistrates this morning.”