Armed robbers smashed a jeweller’s window displays and grabbed a hoard of designer watches worth about �90,000 as stunned shoppers looked on.

Goldsmiths, in Exchange Ilford, was targeted by two men during the brazen smash and grab.

The pair were armed with a baton and a hammer, which was left behind and later taken by police.

They managed to steal 33 Rolex watches after smashing a glass window display.

Deputy manager Scott Morrison said: “It was a quiet morning and we luckily only had one customer in the shop at the time.

“One man was acting as a look-out while the other bundled the watches into a bag.

“We were scared for our own safety and quickly moved out of the way. They must have only been in the window for less than half a minute before cycling away towards the car park.”

Abdul Mannan, 22, of Ilford, works on a concessions stand opposite the shop.

He told the Recorder: “I heard a loud smash behind me and I ran away.

“It was scary as it happened so close to where I was standing.”

The glass display was smashed and only four watches were left behind. Each watch has a retail price of �3,000 to �6,000.

Mr Morrison said: “Crimes like this are very hard to predict and measures are being taken to prevent this from happening again.”

The raid happened at just after 9.50am on Tuesday of last week (August 2) and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.