TWO men stole the takings from the Halfway House Hotel at Squires Gate after gagging and tying up the manager.

The men gained access to the pub through a first floor window at around 11.45pm on October 21.

While the manager was counting the takings they knocked him to the ground threatening him with a chisel. He was then gagged and bound and they used his keys to open the safe and steal the takings -- a considerable sum of money -- including a distinctive Irish 20 punt note.

The main assailant was tall, wearing a woolly black balaclava, black waist length puffa jacket, dark jeans and light coloured trainers.

A WOMAN was subject to a violent assault while she was drinking with friends in Yates's Wine Lodge, Talbot Road, Blackpool, on October 20. A man approached her, fondled her and asked her for a kiss.

She slapped his face and he slapped her back and pushed her down a flight of stairs before making off.

Police have issued a description of the man. He is aged between 20-30 years, 6ft, medium build with short dark hair and was wearing a psychedelic yellow shirt with a blue flowered pattern.

A GANG of 30 youths followed four friends along West Park Drive, Blackpool before attacking them on October 19. The gang stole a silver chain from one of the boys. The main offender was aged around 17, 6ift 4ins, quite skinny, dark haired with sticky-out ears. He wore a dark jacket and blue or black jeans and possibly wore Rockport shoes. A second was aged 12, 4ft 6ins tall, blonde haired and wearing a white top and a gold earring. The rest of the gang were all aged between 12-17 years. A MAN went into Knickers and Lace on Onslow Road, Blackpool, and stole a dark red basque and thong set, a red shimmery vest and a white body with sunflower pattern. The theft happened at around 4.20pm on October 19 and he is described as late 20s, 5ft 10ins, proportionate build, short ginger hair which was longer at the back, with an open graze on the left side of his forehead. He wore a bright orange zip-up anorak and dark trousers. He also appeared under the influence of drink or drugs.

AT AROUND 4.30pm on October 20 two young girls were delivering newspapers in Lincoln Road, Blackpool, when three older girls asked them for money.

They started hitting them but a passer-by intervened and stopped them. As soon as the passer-by had gone they attacked the two girls again until they were stopped by someone and then left.

The first girl was over 5ft, long dark hair with a Nike coat and white Adidas trousers and Rockport boots. The second also had a Nike coat with plain trousers and Rockport boots. The third had blonde hair, wore a green and yellow Nike coat and Adidas trousers and Rockport shoes. All three wore lots of make-up.

TWO MEN and a woman stole jars of coffee from Iceland, Vicarage Lane, on October 23 at 2pm. Staff challenged them and they gave the goods back before running off.

The first man was mixed race, mid 30s, 6ft and medium build with a scar on his nose. The second was early 20s, 6ft, slightly built with greasy dark shoulder-length hair and a spotty complexion. The woman was late 20s, brown hair in a ponytail with slides on top.