An investigation has been launched after a picture of an innocent man was published in The Gazette, Blackpool, purporting to be that of a convicted rapist.

The photograph had been given to the newspaper by Lancashire Police, in the belief that it was an up-to-date picture of the wanted criminal.

But it later came to light that the photograph was in fact that of a local man with no connection to the offences.

Following the mix-up, Lancashire Police told The Gazette: "We very much regret that this has happened and the distress caused to the individual whose photograph was published.

"We are carrying out an inquiry into how the photograph came to be in police possession before being passed by our offices in good faith to The Gazette for publication."

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