TRADERS are setting up a Shopwatch scheme in the wake of a violent robbery in which a storekeeper was struck on the head.

The incident happened last week when the owner of a jewellers shop in Malton, Geraldine Holmes, was hit with a wooden shelf.

She had been trying to usher two suspicious women from the store, on Market Street, when one of them hit her and the two fled with a quantity of jewellery.

Mrs Holmes suffered a minor head injury and a bruised shoulder and was back at work two days later.

The thieves are thought to have been targeting other shops in the town on the same day and as a result the Shopwatch scheme is being launched.

Rachel Sawyer, who set up Tots2Teens last year, said a quantity of children’s clothes had been taken from her shop by two women of a similar description.

She added: “We would like all shop owners and businesses in Malton to get involved so that if someone is acting suspiciously in their shop, they can phone on to the next shop and warn them and so on round the town.

“It can also be used for other incidents such as when fake £20 notesare being passed around.”

PC Jane Jones, of Malton Police, said she fully supported the initiative.

“It is great that they are taking this on. The police can support them with text messages and emails regarding incidents as well as training and posters,” she said