Detectives have identified two men who allegedly threatened to behead two young female cadets – and they are Romanian nationals not Asians as first described.

The two men in a Vauxhall Zafira were thought to have asked "Are you in the Army?" and then shouted as they drove past the cadets, who were not in uniform, after the pair left the centre in Alexandra Road, Gateshead on January 21.

Police said inquiries had been carried out into the incident and thanks to information from members of the public officers had managed to identify the two men in the image.

Gateshead Superintendent Richie Jackson said: "We have identified the two men from the Zafira and we now know they are Romanian nationals who were visiting the area at the time of the incident and not Asian males as first described.

“The two men have since left the country and inquiries are ongoing with Interpol to locate them and speak to them.”

He added: "After carrying out enquiries we believe this was an isolated and opportunist incident where the two men have shouted inappropriate comments from their car window at two girls who were walking in the street.

"What they have done has caused a lot of concern to the victims and to the wider community and we are doing all we can to locate these two men and speak to them about their actions."

The driver was described in his 40s, of plump or muscular build, with a black bushy beard and dark clothes.

His passenger was as in his 30s, with short black hair and stubble.