Police are releasing CCTV images of two suspects and renewing an appeal for witnesses, following two armed robbery incidents in west Suffolk at the end of last month.

Detectives are linking an attempted robbery and a robbery which both took place on Saturday, January 31.

The first occurred at around 7.10am in The Street, Badwell Ash, when two men armed with what was described as a pistol, entered the post office as it was opening and demanded money from a member of staff.

The member of staff ran from the premises and he was followed by the offenders who left in the direction of Hunston, although they did not take anything from the store.

Both men are described as white and wearing balaclavas.

The first man is described as around 5ft 8in tall, wearing a dark grey hooded top with a light-coloured motif on the outer-right bicep area, dark trousers, dark shoes and his balaclava is described as having white stitching around the mouth and eyes.

He was carrying a white cotton bag with a pin hammer.

The second man is described as wearing a navy blue hooded top, with three blue stripes from neck to cuff and with a white motif (believed to be Adidas) on the right of the chest and orange/red lines around the neck.

He was also wearing blue bottoms and dark trainers with a light-coloured tongue, believed to be Nike Air 95s.

He was carrying a small black handgun.

It is believed that the men were driving an older style dark blue Peugeot.

The second incident took place at around 7.35am at the post office in The Street, Stanton.

Two men, matching the description above, entered the store armed with a small handgun and a hammer and stole £100 in cash, along with 200 cigarettes and some tobacco which they put in a white bag.

The robberies are also being linked to two further incidents involving vehicle crimes.

Overnight between Friday, January 30 and January 31 in Rougham Road, Bradfield St George, an attempt was made to break into a car on a drive by smashing a window, although nothing was stolen.

This was followed by the theft of a blue Peugeot 306, registration V167 KWK, which was stolen from outside a property in Oakey Ley, Bradfield St George, on the same night.

At 10.30pm on Tuesday February 3, police were notified by the fire service about a car which had been set alight in Chapel Lane, Wattisfield, which was confirmed as the stolen Peugeot 306.

Acting Detective Inspector Ann Naylor, of Bury St Edmunds CID, said: “Although these images do not provide us with facial shots of the suspects, they do give reasonably clear pictures of the clothes they were wearing, which may help to identify them.

“Anyone who believes they recognise these people based on either the images or descriptions we have provided, or who has any information in relation to either of the robbery incidents or those involving the cars, is asked to contact our detectives.”

People with information are asked to call Bury St Edmunds CID on 101 quoting reference BR/15/96, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.