Chris Stokel-Walker/JesmondLocal

Two armed robbers have attacked a Jesmond jewellery shop with a sledgehammer.

At 10:49am on March 3, two men in a silver Ford Fiesta smashed the front window of the Jesmond Gallery jewellery shop, also known as AC Silver, in St George’s Terrace. Sources at the scene of the crime told JesmondLocal that the shop was attacked with a sledgehammer.

Three holes were visible in the shop’s glass frontage when JesmondLocal attended the scene of the crime.

At least one worker, a female employee, was in the shop at the time.

Simon Johnson, a witness who turned up at the scene minutes after the alleged robbers had made off from the scene, told JesmondLocal what he saw.

“One of the staff was crying into her mobile phone,” he said, “and the road hadn’t been shut, which it is presently.”

Robbery at the AC silver shop on thornleigh rd. investigation underway #jesmond #starbucks #acsilver @northumbriapol pic.twitter.com/ZNcOJjjPBe

— Ritwik Sarkar (@ritwikjsarkar) March 3, 2016

The attackers stole items from inside before making off in the Ford Fiesta, according to Northumbria Police. The car was found abandoned in Forsyth Road.

The same witness saw the car believed to be associated with the crime abandoned behind a nearby church around 100 metres from the shop.

The owner of the shop, Andrew Campbell, who opened his shop in 1977, was said by office staff at his business to be “stressed” at the robbery and was not able to talk to JesmondLocal. He and his staff were helping police with their enquiries.

The road remains cordoned off to all access, though the Fat Hippo restaurant and Starbucks cafe remain open.

@EveningChron Jesmond this morning. pic.twitter.com/X1phIs8Sne

— Sir Peter de la Bier (@Kaiserpic) March 3, 2016

A scene of crime officer is on his way to the incident, JesmondLocal has learned, though police officers on the scene believe the road is unlikely to open until later this afternoon.

This armed attack on a Jesmond shop follows an armed robbery at Jules B, just a few hundred yards away, in November 2015.

A local business owner, who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press, said that the shops on and around Acorn Road are “targeted because of the quality of the retail offer.”

Acorn Road and nearby shopping streets, including Brentwood Avenue, are home to many high-end jewellers and clothes shops.

Anyone who was in the area and who saw anything, or who has any information, is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 342 03/03/16.