SHOP staff who were threatened with a gun while tackling an armed robber have been praised for their bravery.

Three masked men, armed with sawn-off shotguns and a handgun, burst into D&H Jewellers, in Darlington, terrifying staff and customers before making off with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.

During the raid, a scuffle broke out and two members of staff wrestled one of the armed robbers to the ground, but he broke free after his accomplices waved a gun in their faces.

The robbers, who smashed display cabinets and leapt over the shop counter, grab-bed hundreds of items of jewellery. The trio ran to a getaway car driven by a fourth man and sped off towards the town centre.

A security guard from a nearby shop hurled a piece of furniture at the silver saloon car and smashed its windscreen, but it did not stop.

The manager and staff at the store, in Houndgate, have been left deeply distressed by the incident, which happened at 4.20pm, on Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Mcdonald said: "The staff have been through a terrible ordeal and are in a great deal of shock.

"These are people who have been very brave and courageous.

"There were a lot of people in the area at the time, it was busy with Christmas shoppers, and we would appeal for anyone who has any information to contact us."

Detectives investigating the robbery believe the raid may have been carried out by a professional gang.

Det Chief Insp Mcdonald said: "This robbery was well-planned and well-executed, so much so that only one of the robbers spoke throughout the raid.

"Officers are now studying CCTV footage to gain more information about the car and the raiders."

It is the second time the shop has been robbed in the past 18 months.

In May last year, three men smashed the window of the store with a sledgehammer and made off with a quantity of jewellery.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the men or has any information about Wednesday's incident to contact Darlington police, on (01325) 467681.