THERE was another serious outbreak of violent crime reported in the area this week.

A train conductor was almost strangled in the course of his duties, a masked robber terrorised a teenage newsagent attendant, and a student had his face badly cut open in a pub.

The amount of violent crimes in the area have led police to adopt a new strategy for reducing the number of violent crimes in Lancaster and Morecambe.

They are appealing for information on the following:

A train conductor was almost strangled on the 9.50pm train between Lancaster and Carnforth. The conductor was attacked as he stepped off the train at Carnforth. The thug punched him in the chest and kicked him in the groin. He then tried to strangle him. The thug - who had been verbally abusing the conductor since he boarded at Lancaster - then ran off with a friend. The thug was about five feet five inches and in his early 20s. He had short cropped brown hair and is believed to be from Arnside.

A balaclava wearing robber frightened a young assistant into handing over £150 cash early on Saturday morning. The robber made no specific threat but the youth handed over the contents of the till when the scary figure asked. The robber was in his early 20s and was about six feet two inches. He wore a green top, jeans and white T-shirt. The incident took place at 5.57am.

A student was taken to hospital with lacerations to his face after being beaten up at Fibber McGees on James Street in Lancaster on Monday night. The 20-year-old male student at St Martin's had been thrown down the steps. He was not seriously hurt.

Anyone with any information on the above crimes should contact Lancaster police on 63333.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.