POLICE have launched a CCTV appeal after a woman's purse was stolen and her bank card used to withdraw money.

The theft happened at the Angel Hotel on New Quay Road, Whitby.

At around lunchtime on September 11, a man – described as being Eastern European, about 5ft 6ins tall, in his thirties, wearing a white shirt – entered the hotel and removed a purse from a customer’s handbag whilst she was at the bar ordering her meal.

He then left the pub accompanied by another man and a woman. The woman had blonde hair and was wearing denim trousers.

A short time later a bank card from inside the purse was then used at a nearby Halifax cashpoint to withdraw an amount of cash.

Police have today released CCTV still images of a man and woman they would like to speak to, and are requesting the public’s assistance to identify the pictured pair as they may have important information that could assist this investigation.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Ashley Verrill.

You can also email Ashley.Verrill@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12160166852.