POLICE have taken their hunt for an armed robber who targets travel agents to an international audience.

Detective Sergeant Jed Bibby of Cheshire Constabulary appeared on Sky TV's Most Wanted crime show on Wednesday to give details of the case.

Pictures and CCTV footage on it also appear on the Sky News website.

DS Bibby was urging viewers to help identify the man wanted for a series of robberies across the UK, including one in Ellesmere Port.

The offender, who has been captured several times on CCTV, has carried out at least 23 armed raids over the past 18 months from Hartlepool to Basildon in London, netting him about £150,000.

His crime spree brought him to Ellesmere Port at 2.50pm on April 24, 2006, when he used a gun to threaten staff at Travelcare in the Port Arcades.

At the time the shopping centre was crowded with families and shoppers. He did not fire his weapon.

The man also struck at a travel agents in Warrington that November.

In both incidents he approached the bureau de change desk and threatened staff with a small black handgun. He then demanded cash before calmly walking away.

No-one was injured in either incident, but staff were left extremely shaken.

Witnesses describe the man as aged 30-50, 5ft 6ins tall with a dark complexion. He spoke in heavily accented English, and could have been Turkish or Greek. During the Ellesmere Port raid, he had a heavy beard growth.

DS Bibby said: 'This is a serial offender who, to date, has committed 23 armed robberies and stolen more than £150,000 in various currencies, mainly from travel agents.

'I appeal to any member of the public who recognises this man to contact us.'

* Anyone with information in relation to any of the incidents should contact DS Bibby on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.