Magnetic resonance images are acquired by combining images obtained using two different spatial sensitivity profiles, (1’), (2’). The transverse magnetisation is caused to adopt such a profile (1’) in one direction, resulting, in two dimensions, to a series of alternating stripes of respectively strong and weak, e.g. zero, transverse magnetisation. The regions of strong transverse magnetisation correspond to regions of high sensitivity in the acquired image. A complementary sensitivity profile (2’) is stored as longitudinal magnetisation. A first image is then acquired in which the pixels are centered on the regions of high sensitivity within the first sensitivity profile (1’). The complementary sensitivity profile (2’) is then recalled by inserting an additional gradient pulse and then a radio-frequency pulse into the pulse sequence and a second image acquired. As with the first image, the pixels are centered on the high-sensitivity regions, but these are mid-way between those within the first sensitivity profile (1’). A combined image is then created by interleaving the two images. The combined image has twice the resolution of each of the two component images. In a further embodiment, two images are acquired in which each spatial sensitivity profile exhibits a sinusoidal profile extending over the field of view. In this case, all the data from the two images are combined using an algorithm.