AN ARMED gang snatched jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds in a daring raid on a Darlington shop on Wednesday.

Three masked men burst into D and H Jewellers in Houndgate at about 4.20 while customers were in the shop. Two of the men were armed with sawn-off shotguns and the third wielded what is thought to be a handgun.

They leapt over the counter and snatched jewellery from the display areas which they loaded into a bag.

Two members of staff scuffled with one of the robbers before pinning him to the ground, but they were forced to release him when one of his accomplices threatened them with a shotgun at point blank range.

The trio then made their getaway in a silver saloon car driven by a fourth man.

The car is believed to have been damaged after a man from neighbouring jewellers Gold Mart threw a small piece of furniture at the windscreen as the raiders drove off towards Blackwellgate.

Det Chief Insp Ian MacDonald of Darlington CID is leading the investigation into the robbery. He said: "It appeared to be a well-planned and well executed operation.

"We are trawling through witness statements and town centre CCTV footage for more information and in the hope of identifying the car."

Nobody from D and H Jewellers was prepared to comment yesterday.

Det Chief Insp MacDonald appealed for any witnesses who were in the Houndgate area at around 4.20 on Wednesday to call Darlington police on 01325 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.