POLICE were last night hunting a gang who carried out a terrifying daylight robbery at a jewellers in a busy shopping street.The gang escaped with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in the audacious raid, which happened at Berridges in Dial Lane, Ipswich at around 12.

POLICE were last night hunting a gang who carried out a terrifying daylight robbery at a jewellers in a busy shopping street.

The gang escaped with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery in the audacious raid, which happened at Berridges in Dial Lane, Ipswich at around 12.40pm yesterday.

Five people were involved in the robbery, which saw displays in the shop smashed with a hammer before the group made their getaway on foot.

A police spokeswoman said: "At 12.40pm a man entered Berridges and asked to try on a watch. While he did so, four further men entered the shop.

"A hammer was produced and displays around the shop were smashed. All five men then ran from the shop, taking with them a large quantity of jewellery.

"The group ran along Dial Lane into Tower Street, where they left in a black four-door saloon car."

Although no one was injured in the raid, it was committed in a bustling area of Ipswich full of shoppers – leaving many shocked at what they had seen.

Nathan Stowe, who was on his lunch break at the time of the robbery, saw what was happening and helped two girls get to safety inside a nearby shop before chasing the gang.

He added: "I heard the banging and the smashing and I realised what was going on – I grabbed a couple of girls and got them inside a shop so they were safe.

"Then I ran after the robbers and managed to get their car number plate. I didn't really think about what I was doing or my own safety – it was just an instinctive thing to do."

Mr Stowe, 41, added: "I was quite calm throughout the whole thing until I got back and then it hit me.

"I would do it again though, because I feel very strongly about it. It's so unfair that people do things like this and those that work hard for their money lose out."

Laura Middlewick, 18, was also shopping nearby when the drama unfolded. She said: "We heard lots of smashing and ran into a shop – people were shouting that it was a robbery.

"We came out and we saw them running away down the road. They were carrying cream-coloured bags and I saw a hammer.

"It was quite scary and left us shaking a bit – it was lucky no-one was hurt."

The man who tried on the watch in the shop is described as black, around 55 years old, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 7ins tall, with short thinning hair.

He was of medium build and was wearing a dark jacket and tie. The other four raiders are described as black and in their late teens or early twenties.

Police want to talk to anyone who was in the area at the time of the robbery and who may have information relating to it.

Calls should be made to Det-con Derek Riley, of Ipswich CID on 01473 383133, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.