POLICE who unveiled a cardboard cut-out of Britain's most wanted armed robber have received scores of calls about the case.

Detectives said several callers had suggested names for the offender who has carried out 34 raids on building societies across the North West.

The raider - dubbed the "Flat Cap" robber - has struck over a three-year period - the last two times in Colne and Skipton.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said officers at the Operation Tornado incident room had received calls from across the country.

Detective Inspector Pat Corfield, who is leading the hunt, said: "Our use of a cardboard cut-out to emphasise that the suspect is little over 5ft tall has been extremely successful.

"It has caught the imagination of the public and we hope they will now help us to catch this man."

Detectives also unveiled details of a distinctive white car and disclosed it was used in at least six of the robberies.

The vehicle was a white Ford Sierra, with white colour-coded wing mirrors, a spoiler and bumper.

It was missing wheel trims and a piece of black plastic trim from the rear.

Mr Corfield added: "We would also like people to keep their eyes pealed for this car, which is very distinctive."

The robber has raided 34 building societies across central and northern England and Wales.

He has struck twice in Lancashire, five times in Leicestershire, twice in West Yorkshire, four times in Cheshire, six times in Staffordshire, three times in Shropshire, four times in Derbyshire, twice in north Wales, once in Greater Manchester, twice in Nottinghamshire, once in North Yorkshire, once in Warwickshire and once in Lincolnshire.

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