PRESTON police have released an artist's impression of the man they want to question in connection with an armed robbery in Ashton.

Two women cashiers at the Halifax, Blackpool Road, were threatened with a semi-automatic weapon by the man, who escaped with a substantial amount of money, at around 1.55pm on Thursday, March 25.

One of the two cashiers was held by the robber and had the gun pressed into her side while the other was forced to fill a carrier bag with cash.

The robber is described as white, in his mid 30s, 5ft 10ins tall, had thick, dark eyebrows and was clean-shaven.

Detective Inspector Scott Griffin of Fulwood CID said: "What we would like people to do is look at the picture and ask themselves if they recognise this man and the clothes he was wearing.

"He had a distinctive thigh-length navy blue waterproof jacket with a burgundy stripe across the chest.

"If anyone knows someone who looks like him and has a jacket like that, we would like them to contact us on 01772-209543."

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