A JEWELLERY shop owner has told how his staff managed to flee to safety after armed robbers stormed in brandishing crowbars and hammers.

Two female employees at David Marsden Jewellers, King Street, Clitheroe, locked themselves in a back room as three masked men ransacked the shop at around 5.20pm on Monday.

Owner David Marsden, 60, who also has a store in Keirby Walk, Burnley, said the robbers made off with thousands of pounds in diamonds and watches.

Mr Marsden said: “It’s a shock but fortunately, during 40 years in the business, we’ve only been robbed a couple of times.

“The main thing is that the staff are safe and managed to lock themselves in a room.”

Mr Marsden had headed home only moments before the robbery took place and he said that a number of expensive Tag Hauer and Raymond Weil watches were snatched in the raid.

He said it was unclear at this stage exactly how much had been taken but it totalled thousands of pounds.

Mr Marsden added: “This is the last thing you need before Christmas.

"At least my staff are okay, even if they are little bit shocked by what happened.”

He confirmed that the masked robbers had smashed glass display cabinets to get at the jewellery.

A police spokesman said: “They made off in a black Mercedes and headed up towards the Pump Street / Bawdlands area where they abandoned the vehicle and where it is thought they used a second vehicle to make their escape.”

The three robbers are described as all wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, one of the men appeared shorter in height, around 5ft 5 inches tall with the other two men slightly taller.

Anyone with information should contact Clitheroe police on 01200 458741 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.