Oxford Street store robbed of £500,000 of watches

Armed robbers have stolen more than half a million pounds’ worth of watches from a jewellers in Oxford Street, London.

The smash-and-grab job was carried out in full view of a throng of rush hour shoppers, and when police arrived at the scene they were forced to back down when the thieves threatened to open fire.

In a statement, Scotland Yard confirmed that police had been called at around 5.30pm to reports of men holding up a shop at gunpoint and bagging up jewellery.

The men made off on foot with their haul, and have not yet been caught.