A ROGUES gallery of CCTV crime scene images have been released by detectives in the hope of identifying some of Blackpool 's most wanted criminals.

The images have been collated by officers working on a number crimes which have occurred in the resort over the last six months.

Among them are images of an armed robber who held up the Marsden Building Society, on Clifton Street, at around 4.15pm on Friday, June 4.

The offender - a man carrying a handgun - demanded staff load money into a bag he was carrying before making off towards the town centre with around £2000 in cash.

He was described as in his mid to late 30s, around 5ft 10ins tall, with short brown hair, stubble and wearing a blue denim jacket and jeans with no hat or head covering.

There are also images of two men - thought to be in their early 20s - who were involved in an incidence of racially aggravated harassment at the Ali Babas Takeaway, Central Drive, at around 11.15pm on Saturday, May 15.

A teenager and a woman who - in two separate incidents - made off with goods from both the Tesco Express, Highfield Road, and the Tesco Express, Lytham Road, between 9.45am and 10.15am on Sunday, May 30.

A Blackpool police spokesman said: "These images are invaluable in the identification and apprehension of offenders.

"Often CCTV cameras pop up in unlikely places and the more people who have access to their footage, the likelier we are to get a positive identification of an offender."

Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 01253 293933 quoting crime reference AX4128 for the Marsden Building Society robbery, AM3682 for the Ali Babas Takeaway racially-aggravated harassment, AM4162 for the Tesco Express, Lytham Road incident or AM3256 for the Tesco Express, Highfield Road incident.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111