A KNIFEMAN threatened staff at a travel agents before making off with thousands of pounds worth of Euros.

Police think the robbery is likely to be linked to a bank raid in the same street which happened just 24 hours later. Officers yesterday released CCTV footage of the man as he walked into Althams Travel, in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

Brandishing the knife, he demanded money from employees before running off in the direction of Stanley Street and Park Street.

The next day a masked gunman threatened terrified staff at the Blackburn Road branch of HSBC, which is 350 metres away from Althams, and demanded money.

In that incident, which happened on Friday at around 2pm, the robber, who was carrying a handgun, was wearing a light-coloured crash helmet and was described as being around 6ft tall.

He fled the bank when workers refused to hand over any cash.

Police carried out a search of the area and recovered a motorcycle helmet and an imitation firearm in nearby Cannon Street.

Det Sgt Ian Procter, from Accrington CID, said it was very unusual for two such serious incidents to happen in the same area in such a short period of time.

He said: “The two robberies are being linked in so far as we had two robberies in two days.

“We do not often get two robberies like this in the same town in such a short space of time, but we cannot say for definite that they were committed by the same person.”

Detectives have now released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the travel agents robbery, which happened on Thursday at around 11.20am.

The man was described as white, aged in his early 30s and was thought to be between 5ft 8ins and 6ft tall with a stocky build.

He wearing a dark coloured top with the hood up, a dark hat and gloves.

Det Sgt Procter urged anybody who might recognise the man to call police.

He said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact the police.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call Accrington CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.