DETECTIVES hunting a gang of armed robbers have released new information about a car they believe was used during the raid.

Market Cross Jewellers in Middlesbrough was targeted at 4.26pm on Tuesday, January 13, when the balaclava wearing robbers stormed into the Linthorpe Road shop and threatened staff with hammers.

A silver Citreon C Crosser was later found abandoned in the car park next to Leader timber merchants on Newport Road, Middlesbrough.

And officers believe that a light green Peugeot 307 which was also found abandoned in the Gresham area on Saturday, January 17 may have also been involved in the incident. It is believed that the vehicle had false registration plates attached to it.

An earlier robbery at Market Cross Jewellers on Yarm High Street on Monday, November 10 was being linked to the incident in Middlesbrough.

During that raid, the robbers got away with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of watches, diamonds and jewellery.

A 24-year-old man from the Blakely area of Manchester who was arrested on Thursday, January 8 on suspicion of robbery, in connection with the Yarm incident, and a 19-year-old man who was also arrested on suspicion of robbery, in connection with the Middlesbrough raid, both remain on bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone who may have information regarding the vehicle is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.