POLICE have issued a new appeal for help in catching an armed robber who held up a Burnley funeral home at gunpoint.

A man from Burnley was arrested after officers released an e-fit of the suspect they believe threatened a woman worker at Co-op Funeral Services, Colne Road.

But he was released without charge after being questioned by detectives.

And today, nearly a month after the incident, officers renewed their appeal for witnesses to try and catch the raider and his accomplice who escaped with a small amount of cash.

Detective constable Julia Hodgson said: "We are still seeking the two men responsible. It is not the end of the inquiry and we will follow up any information we receive.

"This was nasty incident which left the woman very distressed and it is important we catch those responsible as soon as possible."

The raiders struck at around 10.20am on Thursday, April 27, entering the funeral home through the front door, which opens on to Colne Road, one of the main roads into Burnley.

Detectives said three men were seen running from Cameron Street across Barden playing fields around the time of the robbery.

DC Hodgson said officers would be studying enhanced CCTV images in a bid to identify the culprits.

Both raiders were Asian, aged between 20 and 30, 5ft 9ins to 6ft, of average build and clean shaven.

One of them had short hair, squared off at the back of the neck and was wearing a dark, waist-length jacket, dark trousers and dark gloves.

The other was wearing a white peaked baseball cap, a dark jacket and dark trousers.

Contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.