A CHEEKY hole-in-the-wall gang got away with thousands of pounds worth of stock in an underground raid on a jeweller's shop.

John Clive Jewellers, on the ground floor of Martlands Buildings, in Stanley Street, Tyldesley town centre, was the scene of an unusual early-morning burglary.

Imaginative thieves broke through cellar walls and made a hole through the shop window floor and pulled watches and other valuables worth between £1,000-£2,000 through the gap.

The shop owner, who did not wish to be named, said: "The cheaper end of our range of watches was taken, plus whatever fell through the hole.

"Most of the window is emptied at night, but I do not think whoever did this realised that. We do have quite large cellars beneath, but there are no stairs from the cellar to the shop. There is no access to the shop itself from the cellar."

She added that in 29 years of her ownership, the shop has been many times targeted by thieves.

She said: "There was a break in nearly a year ago in the kitchen, when the roof was broken into. The door has even been burnt down. There have been all sorts over the years."

In the latest attack, raiders did not enter the shop area, but the burglar alarm went off as soon as the shop window floor area was disturbed.

A police spokesman said it was an unusual break-in.

He said: "They came in through the cellar and a large amount of watches and jewellery were taken.

"Nobody has as yet been arrested, and we are asking the public to let us know if they are offered any jewellery."

He added they were awaiting a full list of the stolen items from the proprietor. DIGGING DEEP: Thieves dug through the cellar of John Clive Jewellers