Double raid on jewellers' shops

A number of rings were stolen from Mappin & Webb

Robbers have carried out simultaneous raids on two jewellers' shops in Manchester.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after the shops were robbed at about 1000 BST on Monday.

David M Robinson on St Ann's Square and Mappin and Webb on nearby St Ann's Street were targeted.

Two groups of three men - armed with sledgehammers and machetes - smashed the display cabinets and made off with items of jewellery.

At David M Robinson they stole watches before escaping a Rover MG, which has since been found burnt-out in Silk Street.

In Mappin & Webb the robbers took a number of rings, and drove off in a Ford Cougar.

The raids took place in broad daylight in one of the busiest shopping areas in Manchester city centre.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Crime scene investigators are at the shops, examining them for evidence."

No-one was injured in the robberies.