POLICE have released CCTV images of the men they want to speak to in connection with skimming devices which were set up on East Lancashire cash machines.

Officers are re-appealing with the new images after illegal equipment was found on ATMs in Oswaldtwistle and Colne.

The CCTV images were taken outside the Co-Op in Market Street, Colne, where the first device was found on February 16.

At around midday, a man tried to use the ATM to withdraw some money but the machine swallowed his card.

Immediately after he walked away from the machine, another man approached it and withdrew money from his account before walking away.

Two days later, on February 18, a similar incident occurred at a cash machine outside the Co-Op store in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, when a customer’s card was swallowed.

He went into the shop to report it and when a member of staff came out to examine the machine, what appe-ared to be a skimming device was found attached to the card reader.

On this occasion, the customer was able to retrieve his card and no money was stolen.

PC Jayne Chambers, of Burnley Police, said: “If anyone recognises the people in the CCTV images then I would urge them to come forward and contact us.

“I would also remind people to be vigilant when they are using cash machines.

“If you spot anything at all that you feel is unusual, do not use the machine and report it to the owner of the machine.”

Anyone with any information about this incident should call police on 101, and quote the log number LC-20140221-0894 for the incident in Colne.

And they should also quote the number LC-20140218-1169 for the offence that was commited in Oswaldtwistle.

People with any information about the men can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or also via crimestoppers-uk.org.