TWO cars stolen from homes on the Fylde coast may have been used as getaway vehicles in armed bank raids in the North East.

Police are appealing for information after the cars -- a blue BMW and a blue VW Passat -- were found, burnt to their shells, close to the scene of two robberies in Northumbria.

Both vehicles were taken during burglaries at properties on the Rossall estate, Fleetwood, in October last year.

Detective Inspector Tim Miley, of Gateshead West CID, claims is not believed the car thieves were involved in the bank robberies.

Det Ins Miley said: " It seems strange that these robberies should happen and then days later these cars are found burnt out near where they happened.

"It is our belief that, although the robberies were not committed by the same offenders, these two stolen cars were used in the robberies. We are appealing for anyone with information about the theft of these vehicles to come forward."

The BMW -- registration V132 DMW -- was taken from a property on Rossall Road, Fleetwood in the early hours of October 8.

Its burnt remains were found at Tanfield Lea, Durham, just days after three masked men forced entry into the Lloyds TSB bank, at Rowlands Gill, near Gateshead, on December 5.

At the same time two armed men escaped with a large quantity of cash following a raid at the HSBC bank in Seaton Deleval, Northumberland. The VW Passat -- registration K552 UZK -- was discovered, burnt out, in the New Hartley area of Seaton Deleval on December 7.

It had been stolen from a property on South Strand, Fleetwood, on October 18.

Anyone with information about this is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Gateshead CID on 0191 454 7555, ext 64344.