ROBBERS threatened shop assistants by brandishing kitchen knives at Healds Day and Night store, Kilnhouse Lane, St Annes, on January 13 at 10.40pm.

The two thieves, who were also wielding what appeared to be a firearm in a carrier bag, forced the terrified workers into an office and locked it before making off with a large amount of money and cigarettes.

The first thief is described as white, 5ft 10in tall and of slim build. He was wearing a black balaclava-type mask with small eye holes but no mouth hole, a grey sweatshirt and matching jogging bottoms with a blue stripe down the legs, and light coloured trainers. His accomplice was 5ft 6in tall, plump, and was wearing the same style balaclava and a black crew-neck woolly jumper and dark blue jeans.

Callous thugs kicked and punched a 29-year-old man on the ground after trying to rob him on January 14. The two muggers attacked the lone man in an alleyway close to Egerton Road and Clifford Road in Blackpool at 1.25pm.

The victim managed to push the attackers off and ran away but the two men chased him before making off down Egerton Road in a northerly direction. One attacker is described as 5ft 11in and medium build with short, dark wavy hair. He spoke with a Scottish accent and had a chipped or missing front tooth. He wore a T-shirt with blue and white horizontal stripes, faded denim jeans and canvas trainers.

The second man was skinny with mousey gingery/light brown hair and a pale gaunt-looking face with freckles and a large protruding chin. He wore a black bomber-style jacket and tan coloured boots.

A 61-year-old lady had her arm dislocated after heartless thieves pushed her to the floor when they stole her handbag.

The elderly lady and her 53-year-old sister were walking on Banks Street, Blackpool, on January 19 at 12.28am, when two thieves came up from behind and tried to steal the two ladies' bags. The 53-year-old let go of her shoulder bag when her sister fell to the floor screaming, and the stolen bag is fawn-coloured and contained a purse, glasses in a pink studded case, perfume, make-up and other items.

The two males are 16-18 years old and one was wearing a blue baseball cap and a blue denim jacket. The other was wearing a white jacket and black jeans.

If anyone has any information on any of these crimes, call the anonymous Crimestoppers number (1800) 555111.