Axe gang flees after bungled raid

In the great history book of jewellery thefts this was hardly one to remember.

A gang of hapless robbers tried to steal tens of thousands of pounds of jewellery from a store in Piccadilly.

The four men attempted to break through the shop's plate-glass windows with wooden axe handles at about 10.30pm yesterday. However, after several attempts to smash their way into the Watches of Switzerland store, the security grilles came down over the shop front.

Despite the passing tourists and theatre-goers, the men continued to try to break through the shutters.

One onlooker said: "We couldn't believe what we were seeing. We thought it was some kind of stunt. But when the shutters came down they got really angry and it was obvious they were trying to break in."

The men fled after the noise and commotion attracted dozens of people who gathered around.

A police spokesman said: "It was not the most planned attempt to raid a jewellery shop."