POLICE investigating a robbery at a Blackburn jewellers have released images of the stolen watches.

Two balaclava-clad men smashed their way into Humberstones store, threatened staff and stole a bag of stock shortly after midday on Monday, July 13.

The raid, which caused people to run into neighbouring stores for protection, saw a red Volkswagen Golf pull up at the King William Street jewellers and two men used an axe to smash the bottom pane of glass in the door.

Detectives have now issued photographs of the watches that were stolen in the raid in an attempt to trace them and are appealing to anyone who recognises them or has any information about the robbery to contact them.

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A Todmorden couple, who were in a car with their three-month-old baby, sounded their horn at the getaway car as it blocked the road.

Unaware the robbery was happening, the family were then threatened with an axe by a third member of the gang.

The female passenger in the car, said: “I have never been so afraid before in my life. When my husband pressed the horn at the car blocking the road one of the men threatened us with an axe. I was terrified.

“I just remember thinking I have my baby in the back of the car. It was just an awful experience and the first time I have ever been to Blackburn.”

The car then shot off towards the M6 down Preston New Road shortly after 12.15pm, witnesses said.

Police cordoned off the scene while crime scene investigators hunted for clues and detectives interviewed witnesses.

A window display was left in tatters after items on display were taken.

Humberstones has been targeted three time since 2009. The chain’s flagship Barrowford store on Gisburn Road was robbed in February 2009 when a haul of jewellery worth £400,000 was taken.

And the Blackburn branch was hit twice, first in August 2010 when £30,000 of jewellery was taken and then in September 2013, when several thousands pounds of designer jewellery and Rolex watches were taken.

Neighbouring business owners said shoppers on the street dived into the nearest stores for cover as soon as they realised what was going on. A spokesman for Ginger Muffins, in nearby Sudell Cross, said: “Lots of people rushed into the shop and we saw the car drive past after they had left the jewellers.

“It’s good nobody was hurt.”

Naila Bhatti, 31, was in Pett Fashion, a designer childrenswear shop next door, minutes after the robbery with her four-year-old daughter Madiha Faqir.

The mum-of-four said: “We could have been in there when it all happened which is quite a scary thought.

“I don’t want to think about what danger my child would have been in if we had been a few minutes earlier than we were.

“It’s a horrible thing to have happened.”

A Blackburn town centre jewellery shop owner, who did not want to be identified, said: “I have lost track of how many times my business has been hit since 1981.

“You come to get used to it because of the type of stock that you have on site.

“I’m glad that the staff are OK.”

Hasib Patel, owner of Udat Newsagents in King William Street, said: “I’m very concerned that this has happened just down the street from my business.”

Martin Haynes, manager of Molloy’s pub, which shares an alleyway with the jewellery shop, said: “It’s concerning that this could happen on this road, especially as it’s right next door to the pub.”

A police spokeswoman said: “It is thought that a number of offenders entered the premises and threatened staff members before making off from the scene in a red VW Golf.

“Anyone with information should call 101.”