POLICE are appealing for help to trace a man they want to speak to in connection with four local crimes.

Mark Anthony Bretherton, aged 29, of East Lancashire Road, Lowton is wanted for two counts of assault, criminal damage and burglary.

Officers believe he may be working as a landscape gardener in the Atherton or Tyldesley area.

The first two incidents took place on Twist Lane in Leigh on Saturday, November 29, 2005, when a ground floor flat was broken into and an alerted neighbour was assaulted.

Also on Sunday, November 27, 2005 when the door to a house on Rugby Road in Leigh was kicked down, and the fourth was on Saturday, January 14, 2006 a man was assaulted following an argument in a pub on Railway Road, Leigh.

PC Steve Marsden said: "We have been trying to locate Mark Bretherton for a long time now and have been through all the usual measures but have so far not been able to track him down. We are now asking the public to help us so that we can find Mark and speak to him as part of our investigations."

Anybody with any information as to Mark's whereabouts is asked to contact police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.