MASKED robbers wielding hammers stole jewellery worth up to £10,000 in a smash and grab raid.

A gang of four raiders threatened a member of staff and a terrified customer at the Mumtaz Jewellers in Crescent Road, Great Lever, on Thursday.

The gang struck just before noon. Two of them threatened the two victims while the other two robbers started smashing the show cases and stealing the expensive Indian jewellery inside.

Mr Chifhty Mumtaz the father of the shop manager, told how one of the raiders, who were wearing balaclavas, tried to attack him.

Mr Mumtaz who was serving behind the counter, said: "I was trying to stop them from taking the jewellery and they were hitting me. One of them even tried to hit me with the hammer, but I was out of his range. It was absolutely terrifying. It all seemed to happen so fast. Im still in shock."

His son Mr Qaisar Mumtaz, said: "He was really shaken up and frightened by it, as was the customer.

"He said that the robbers barged in and started shouting at him and the customer.

"Two of them grabbed the customer by the head and dragged him to the ground while the other two got into the jewellery cases."

Mr Mumtaz, aged 29, said that the gang had got away with jewellery worth up to £10,000 and had done thousands of pounds of damage to the shops show cases.

Witnesses reported seeing the gang get into a Toyota Lexus car, with an 02 number plate, on Crescent Road.

They were then seen dumping the car on Woodgate Street and getting into an F-registration Jaguar car.

Mr Mumtaz added: "I hope they get caught. What they did to my father and the customer was horrible and they have done so much damage to the shop."

A police spokesman said: "Inquiries are continuing and anyone with any information is asked to contact CID at Bolton on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."