FESTIVE shoppers in Burnley have been warned to be on their guard against this gallery of rogues as police warned: "Don't let them spoil your Christmas".

The gang of six - including prolific offender John Barnes - have all been banned from the town centre for a catalogue of crimes including stealing from handbags, shoplifting and begging.

Now police have released pictures of some of Burnley's worst petty crooks - all of which have been hit with Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) - in a bid to make sure Christmas shoppers are not their next victim.

Burnley police inspector Damian Darcy said: "We take a tough stance against anti-social behaviour and people should be able to go about their business peacefully.

"The town centre attracts thousands of people, especially in the run-up to Christmas, and those people should feel safe to shop and drink without being targeted by a small minority of criminals.

"Some of these people have used the town centre as a place to commit crime and beg.

"We are committed to driving crime out of the town centre and Burnley and will not tolerate this kind of behaviour."

Insp Darcy said: "The message is clear to these people and others who think they can commit crime in the town centre - the police, its partners and the public will not tolerate such behaviour and unless they behave they will face arrest, further anti-social-behaviour orders and ultimately prison.

"I would urge the public using the town centre to keep their eyes peeled and if they see any one of these people in the town centre, contact the police, town centre wardens or CCTV via one of the help points.

"These people will be in a position to monitor their movements and should they breach any of their ASBO conditions they will be arrested."

Last year the Lancashire Telegraph revealed Burnley was the ASBO capital of Lancashire after it had dished out more of the orders aimed at curbing unruly behaviour.

Since the launch of ASBOs in 1999 police and the local authority had handed out 44 out of the 177 court orders issued in the county.

Preston was second with 28.

The six, whose pictures will be displayed in the charity arch in the town centre, are: Kelly Ferguson, 25, given an ASBO in February for stealing from handbags; Brenda Burnett, 29, given an ASBO in July for begging; Julie Lee, 35, given an ASBO in August for shoplifting; John Barnes, 38, given an ASBO in November 2005 for stealing from handbags; David Cliffe, 21, given an ASBO in March for shoplifting; Susan Howarth, 37, given an ASBO in February for shoplifting.