STAFF at a Swindon jewellers were tied up by a gang dressed as decorators in an armed robbery.

The gun-wielding men made off with tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, including 14 Rolex watches, as well as cash from Deacon's Jewellers, in Wood Street, yesterday.

Police have described it as a traumatic and harrowing experience for the three staff involved.

Four men dressed in painting overalls entered the shop just before 2.45pm.

A member of staff managed to hit an alarm button after they left but, despite armed police heading to the scene, the group managed to get away and the men are still at large.

The police helicopter was scrambled to try to find them and a member of public later spotted a black handgun and paint splattered overalls dumped just off Bath Road.

Inspector Paul Hawkins, of Swindon police, said: "Numerous officers were involved in searching for the offenders. Various vehicles were stopped and checked but it was a negative result.

"What we are really after is any witnesses in the vicinity of the shop who saw a group of four black males entering or leaving the shop or in a vehicle near to the premises."

The exact value of the goods taken is not yet known but police said it was expected to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Insp Hawkins added: "It would have been a traumatic and harrowing experience for anyone in that situation.

"Despite the nature of the offence serious crimes like this are an infrequent occurrence in Swindon."

Old Town traders have expressed their concern at the robbery.

Laura Miller is the owner of clothes shop Nine, which was broken into 13 days ago.

She said: "It does make us feel a bit disturbed. I don't know what's going on in Old Town at the moment.

Ms Miller thinks the on-going work in Wood Street made the shop less secure.

"Because there's no drive-through it does make you feel more vulnerable, and there aren't so many people about," she said.

Another shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, said: "I saw four guys dressed in black walk past twice with paint tins, which I thought was odd because you usually know who's working on the street and they weren't dressed like painters.

"Then I saw one of them run out of Deacons towards High Street. He was wearing a hood."

Anyone with any information on the raid should call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.

£40,000 of watches taken in earlier raid

IT is not the first time that Deacons has been targeted by thieves.

In March 2004 brothers Wayne and David O'Brien stole more than £40,000 worth of Rolex watches from the shop in a smash-and-grab-raid, which took place in broad daylight.

They were captured on the Advertiser's CCTV security cameras moments after the theft as they made their getaway along Albert Street.

It is thought that a sledgehammer or other heavy implement was used to smash the half inch thick glass to get to the watches on the afternoon of March 11, 2004.

At the time, the shop's owner Richard Deacon said it was the first successful smash and grab in the jeweller's 156-year history.

As soon as the alarm was raised Swindon police mobilised the force's helicopter to search for the suspects.

Wayne O'Brien, 38, of Park North, pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court on the first morning of his trial in August last year.

The case against his brother David of Holbein Square, Grange Park, was adjourned as he was in hospital following a motorcycle crash.

But in April this year he was jailed for three years for his part in the raid.

The aftermath was witnessed by shopper Andrea Christmas who was in the Portman Building Society at the time.

She heard a loud bang and saw two men running past, one behind the other.

They ran across the road in front of her and down by Little London Court.

Four police cars and the police helicopter were mobilised and officers later trawled through the Swindon Advertiser's CCTV footage to see if the thieves had been caught in the act.

Clothesstolen

POLICE have released CCTV images of two men involved in a raid at a clothes shop in Old Town.

Thieves smashed their way into the Nine store in Wood Street through the front window and stole a large amount of Tommy Hilfiger clothing.

As well as the designer gear, the thieves also tried unsuccessfully to take a flat screen TV from a wall.

The pair struck in the early hours of Thursday, July 20.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who knows the identity of the two suspects, captured on CCTV.

They also want to hear from anyone who has either bought or been offered items of Tommy Hilfiger clothing.

Anyone with information should call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.