DETECTIVES from neighbouring North-East forces met yesterday to investigate whether two armed robberies were carried out by the same gunman.

Police are also checking with colleagues around the country and believe the robber who carried out last week's raids in Darlington and Hartlepool may have struck elsewhere.

A Travelcare Co-op was targeted in Hartlepool on Wednesday and the Darlington branch of Dawson and Sanderson was raided on Friday.

During the Hartlepool raid, a man escaped with only a small amount of cash, but in Darlington, a robber armed with a black handgun escaped with £5,000 in sterling, euros and US dollars.

Detectives from Hartlepool CID confirmed they were linking the two incidents and are in touch with forces across the UK.

Detective Sergeant Mark Lennard said: "The description we have got links this man as the one responsible for the robbery in Darlington.

"At this stage, we believe he is from out of town and is travelling to the area. We are specifically asking for information from taxi drivers and hoteliers who may have seen this person between Tuesday and Friday."

Witnesses at the armed robbery in Hartlepool described the man as 5ft 2in, aged between 30 and 40 and stocky. He was wearing a navy blue woolly hat, a khaki green jacket and dark trousers.

The description from the Darlington robbery was of a man about 40, stocky, about 5ft 5in with an eastern European accent.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said last night: "Police are now linking the Hartlepool incident with a similar robbery in Darlington, as well as numerous others which have occurred throughout the country."

The man, who was of Asian appearance, left the Travelcare Co-op Store, in York Road, Hartlepool, after demanding cash from a female shop assistant at about 2pm.

Two female customers were in the shop at the time. One has been traced but police are still anxious to speak to the other one.

Darlington was packed with Christmas shoppers when the gunman raided the bureau de change, in Skinnergate, at 10.40am on Friday. He placed a small black handgun on the counter and demanded cash.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01642-326326 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.