ARMED robbers escaped with jewellery and watches after terrifying staff and customers in a town centre shop.

Three men wearing dark clothes and balaclavas went into Ancient and Modern jewellers, New Market Street, Blackburn, at about 4.15pm today.

And an eyewitness described how she saw men running through the town centre with a sledgehammer and a sword after the robbery.

Police confirmed the three offenders joined two accomplices in a Vauxhall estate that made off towards King George's Hall.

The eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw these men, about three of them, legging it down the road with a sledgehammer and what I think was a sword.

"They were all wearing balaclavas.

"They got into what locked like a silver car that had been driving up and down the road outside with its doors open for a while.

"I just thought that the driver was drunk or was a kid messing about."

She added: "I wasn't frightened, I took down the reg number of the car and phoned the police because I was concerned about what I'd seen.

"The lady who owns the shop was out at the time it happened, but there was another woman in the shop serving, and they were both terrified when I saw them."

Police confirmed that the men were armed, although they were not believed to be carrying firearms, and stole a number of items of jewellery and watches.

They said nobody in the shop was injured.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 and quote log 196eq.