POLICE want to question two men in connection with a major bomb scare in Radcliffe.

The pair, whose faces are partially obscured by a hood and a hat, were captured on CCTV close to the Royal Bank of Scotland in Blackburn Street late on Friday night, April 16.

The bomb scare began when bank staff opened for business on Monday, April 19, and found a cylindrical object with protruding wires in the letter box.

Police were called and a security cordon was put around the bank. Youngsters from a neighbouring nursery were taken to safety, several homes and businesses were evacuated and surrounding roads were closed, causing traffic chaos throughout the morning.

Officers from the Army's Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal unit were called and an explosive expert wearing armour plating entered the bank at noon, but found no explosives inside the package.

Detectives investigating the incident have released this CCTV picture of the two men wanted in connection with the bomb scare.

Det Insp Simon Collier, of Whitefield CID, said: "Further CCTV footage is still being examined and tests are being conducted.

"However, this can take time and I appeal to anyone who can identify the two men in the photograph to contact us immediately."

The men in the CCTV images are believed to be white and were wearing dark clothing. They were seen in the Blackburn Street area, close to the Royal Bank of Scotland, on Friday, April 16, at 11.25pm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8248, or Crimestoppers anonymously on free phone 0800 555111.