DETECTIVES have released CCTV stills of two men who tried to carry out a baseball bat raid on an East Lancashire bookmakers.

Images have been released by police as they probe an incident at the Coral branch, in Railway Road, Blackburn, on June 24.

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And officers are still looking into whether the failed hold-up is linked to another aborted raid on a branch of William Hill in Brierfield 80 minutes earlier.

Police said that during the Blackburn attack one of the men, who was armed with a baseball bat, approached the cashiers and demanded cash.

But the counter staff were able to lock themselves in a room directly behind the counter before the man with the baseball bat opened the hatch and made his way to the tills. He was then said to have been disturbed before the pair fled the shop empty-handed.

Det Insp Eric Halford, of Eastern CID, said: “We are keen to speak to the two men pictured in the CCTV images in connection with this incident and I would urge anyone who recognises them or has any information that could assist with our enquiries to come forward.”

Witnesses can ring the CID office on 01254 353562, the Lancashire Police non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

The earlier incident saw two men walk into the William Hill office in Railway Street, Brierfield, again demanding cash from counter staff, with one brandishing a baseball bat.

Both men then tried to get behind the counter through a locked side door before they ran off, without any money.

The man carrying the baseball bat is described as white, slim, around six feet tall and aged in his 20s.

He was said to be wearing a grey zip-up jacket, black trousers and a balaclava.

The second man is described as 5ft 8in tall and was wearing a grey hoodie and black bottoms.