A gang of six armed robbers who dressed as firefighters to hold-up Redbridge shopkeepers at gunpoint, whooped and cheered after being jailed for a total of 32 years.

The well-drilled gang repeatedly raided cash-in-transit deliveries armed with handguns, knives and crowbars before fleeing in stolen cars.

Targets included McDonalds in High Road, Seven Kings, where a security guard was punched in the face during a cash in transit robbery in, and Co-op in Fencepiece Road, Hainault, where two men dressed as firefighters turned a gun on a shopkeeper and forced him to open a safe.

They visited places in full uniform, invented a story that the alarms needed to be checked and once inside pulled out a handgun or threatened staff and forced them to hand over cash.

Police estimate they netted at least �200,000 from their nine-month spree.

The men giggled in the dock at the Old Bailey on Friday as the facts of the case were outlined and gave the thumbs up sign to their supporters in the public gallery as they were taken down to the cells.

Ringleader Darren Lloyd, 36, of Pettits Road, Dagenham, was jailed for 18 years earlier this month on counts of conspiracy to rob and having an imitation firearm with intent.

Gary Griffiths, an ex-police officer, 42, of Babbington Road, Dagenham, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Jason Stacey, 38, of Chitty’s Lane, Dagenham, and Frank Nesbitt, 20, of Mildmay Road, Romford, were jailed for eight years each.

Joshua McEvilly, 29, of Hare Hall Lane, Romford was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment; Ben Garforth, 20, of Chadwell Heath Lane, Chadwell Heath, to six years and Peter Henderson, 29, of Lymington Road, Dagenham, for two years.

They all pleaded guilty to counts of conspiracy to rob, while Griffiths and Stacey admitted possessing an imitation firearm with intent.

Firefighter Russell Williams, 39, of Bury Green Road, Cheshunt, previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and will be sentenced on February 3.