A FRIGHTENED woman cashier at a building society handed over money to a robber who claimed he had a gun.

The robbery happened when the Rosegrove office of the Marsden Building Society, Burnley, opened at 9.30am today and the scruffy robber escaped with what is believed to be a few hundred pounds.

The incident may be linked to another robbery which happened at 1.55am when money was stolen from a taxi driver in the Barclay Hills area of Burnley.

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Taylor said: "The incidents happened not too far from one another and the description is not dissimilar. But it is too early to say whether they are connected or not.'' The Rosegrove robber is described as 5ft 6ins tall, scruffy with light coloured hair and light stubble. He is slim and was wearing a tan or brown jacket with a sheepskin lining.

The assistant handed over a bundle of notes after he said he had a gun.

He then ran off in the general direction of Kiddrow Lane.

The taxi driver was robbed after taking two passengers from Plumbe Street, Burnley, to the Barclay Hills estate. The incident happened on the top car park at Curlew Gardens.

The robbers got away with a small amount of cash after making threats.

One is described as in his early 20s with a crew cut and facial stubble. He wore a dark T-shirt and cream coloured trousers.

The other is around 5ft 7in, of medium build and also with a crew cut.

Det Chief Insp Taylor said: "The driver was not hurt but felt sufficiently threatened to hand over the money.''

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282-425001.

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