Left to right clockwise: Man who entered the Ashton Betfred, man who waited outside Ashton Betfred, man who entered Ribbleton Betfred

Police in Preston have released CCTV images after two city betting shops were robbed in August.

The images show the masked men believed to be responsible for the terrifying raids.

A first robbery took place on Sunday 24 August at the Betfred shop on Blackpool Road in Ashton on Ribble.

Two men approached the sop from the Kimberley Road area.

One waited outside while the other entered and demanded money from the staff inside, threatening them with a knife.

Nearly £350 was taken, stuffed into a black bag and both men were then seen heading off on foot towards Kimberley Road.

The man who entered the shop is described as white, slim and spoke with a Liverpool accent. He wore a distinctive grey patterned bandana over his lower face and a tight black hat.

The other man wore a light coloured hooded top and dark coloured trousers.

On the same Sunday at 8.20pm a man entered a Betfred shop on Blackpool Road, Ribbleton.

He took more than £200 after demanding staff hand over the cash.

He is described as stock, wearing a dark baggy tracksuit bottoms, a black bomber style jacket and black trainers with reflective stripes on the side. His face was covered with a black balaclava with goggles or sunglasses over the top.

DC Jane Thomas of Preston Police said: “I would ask people to take a good look at the CCTV images and help us to identify those responsible for these robberies.

“Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting DL1404601 for the first robbery that happened in Ashton or DF1407874 for the second robbery in Ribbleton.”

Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.