MASKED raiders armed with a lump hammer burst into a jewellers and stole luxury watches worth thousands of pounds.

The three robbers wearing balaclavas raided Humberstones, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, shortly before 2pm yesterday.

They used the hammer to smash a display cabinet. Their haul included Rolex and Cartier watches.

They escaped in a black Volvo S60 driven by a fourth man. The car, P3 PGM, was found abandoned 500 yards away -- behind the Victoria Pub.

A dark Volvo or Mercedes then left the back of the pub in the direction of the M65.

In April masked raiders stole watches worth tens of thousands of pounds from the company's branch in Blackburn.

Detective Inspector Dermott Horrigan from Pendle CID said it was not yet known the value of the goods stolen.

"At this moment we are not linking the robbery to the one in Blackburn but it is still early and we are keen to make further enquiries.

" We are speaking to colleagues in Blackburn with regards to this incident.

"We are keen to speak to any person who was in the Gisburn Road area at 2pm or who was in the vicinity of the Victoria Public House.

"It is possible the men responsible may have visited the site before and I would ask any sightings of a suspicious nature to be reported."

An eye witness, who did not want to be named, said the robbers pulled up in a car as he was walking past. He said: "They were holding what looked like baseball bats and wearing balaclavas.

"They just went in to the shop and started smashing the place up and the girls started screaming.

"I took down the registration number and gave it to the police."

Another witness who did not wish to be named said he was looking in his rear view mirror when he saw the robbers leave the shop. He said: "I was pulling out of the road and I think there was a black BMW parked on the crossing and I thought it was a stupid place to park.

"A guy then came out of shop and got in the back seat and two others got in and drove off."

The robbers are believed to be between 25-35. One is described as being 5ft 10in, slim wearing black shell suit bottoms, a dark jumper or jacket and dark trainers.

The other two are 5ft 8in, slim and wearing dark clothing and 5ft 8in, slim, wearing dark clothing, possibly a light weight three quarter length sports jacket, dark jeans and trainers.

The driver is described as white, 20-25 with short curly light coloured hair wearing a light T-shirt.

Anybody with information should contact Pendle CID 01282 472465 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.