PICTURES have been released of a woman who tried to rob a customer in a bank with a penknife - right under the nose of the region's Press.

The woman, who managed to escape, did not realise the Bishop of Durham and several TV cameras were in the vicinity for the opening of a £750,000 improvement scheme for Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Yesterday, TV pictures were released of the woman who escaped from the Co-op Bank, in Newgate Street, where she had threatened a woman with the knife on Friday.

She was seen running through the crowd, which had gathered to see Bishop Michael Turnbull open the improvement scheme, before running into an alley connecting Newgate Street with Kingsway.

She was well-built and had dark hair braided into a pony tail. Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01388) 603566.