An appeal has been launched to trace a man following two thefts from trains passing through Preston.

London-bound services have been targeted with a pensioner seeing her bag pinched.

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A CCTV picture of a man has been released by British Transport Police they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

The first incident happened on Tuesday 21 February between 12noon and 12.20pm.

A 49-year-old man was travelling on a London-bound service from Scotland when a man entered the carriage, coach E, and sat down opposite him.

The man left the carriage at Lancaster but then came back in, leant across the victim and took his wallet from the table, before leaving the train.

Read more: Drug smuggler caught with cannabis on Preston to Glasgow train

In the second incident, the victim, a 68-year-old woman, was travelling on a London bound service and fell asleep during the journey between Oxenholme and Preston.

Her handbag was on the window seat next to her and a man sat behind her and took a purse and mobile from the handbag while the victim was asleep.

Officers believe the thefts are linked and would like to speak to the man shown in the CCTV image as he may have information which could help with the investigation.

If you have any information about the person shown in the CCTV image or the incidents, please call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference number 250 07/03/17.