POLICE have praised the public for offering names for more than half of the pictures of suspects wanted in connection with the serious racial disorder in Burnley.

The suspects' photographs were published in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and in just five hours yesterday, the dedicated police telephone line had received more than 30 calls and had names for 17 of the 32 suspects.

Det Sgt Steve Mounsey said: "We didn't know what the response would be, but we were aware of how successful a similar exercise had been in Bradford when all of the people wanted were identified within a day.

"I am confident we will have names for all of the faces by Monday and I am very pleased with the response so far. We were always optimistic that we could be successful."

He said a team of 40 detectives drafted in from all over the county were still working on the disturbances at the end of July, which saw the Duke of York in Duke Bar fire-bombed, cars set on fire and many businesses premises vandalised and windows smashed.

Police have viewed more than 100 tapes of CCTV footage and many alleged offenders have already been identified. A total of 55 people were arrested at the time of the trouble and a further 47 since.

Det Sgt Mounsey said: "It is unusual for us to release photographs like this, but we have come this far in the inquiry and we are at a stage where we have not been able to identify these people by conventional means, so we put them in the newspaper. The Asian and white youths and men are wanted in connection with alleged public order and damage offences.

The help-line -- 01282 472222 -- will be manned 10am to 10pm all weekend and a team of four detectives and two support staff are on hand to deal with any calls.

Det Sgt Mounsey added: "Any names we are given will be followed up in the next few days. I would urge people not to be complacent and think we have already identified all the people. Please, if you know who any of the photographs are, contact the help-line."