Innocent woman claims she was sacked over North Wales Police's CCTV

A woman claims she was sacked after she was wrongly pictured in CCTV images released by police hunting for handbag thieves who stole from the elderly.

Officers had released stills in the hunt for thieves who had targeted shoppers at a supermarket in Porthmadog, Gwynedd.

But North Wales Police later admitted two women pictured were innocent.

The pair are considering legal action while an inspector has offered to speak to their employers to explain.

North Wales Police said a "full explanation" had been given to the pair, from Trawsfynydd, but no public apology was offered by the force.

One of the innocent women said the CCTV images had resulted in her losing her job and having her front door kicked.

The second said she had received "dirty looks".

'Store's footage'

They have contacted a solicitor.

North Wales Police said: "Following an allegation of theft, two people were identified as 'persons being of interest' from the store's CCTV footage.

"That footage was made public in order to identify and interview those people.

"Following publication of the photographs, two people came forward and identified themselves as those on the footage.

"Following further inquiries we have now discounted both as being involved in the incident."

Local inspector Mark Armstrong has offered to speak to the women's employers and explain the circumstances.