BRAZEN raiders tried to smash their way into Sangamam Jewellers in Rayners Lane in front of startled passers-by.

The would-be robbers pulled up in a car at about 4pm and several men got out of the vehicle with weapons and pounded the glass frontage of the store.

However, passing drivers started tooting their horns - and allegedly one pedestrian chased the thieves with an umbrella - and the gang jumped back into the car and made their getaway.

One eyewitness, a customer of nearby Shapes In Hair, said: "I was walking down towards Sainsbury's when I saw a car pulling onto the pavement and some guys got out - about two or three of them - and they started hitting the windows of the jewellery shop really hard with something in their hands: I was so far away I couldn't see what.

"But then all the cars queuing behind started hooting their horns and that seemed to spook the raiders and they started getting back into the car.

"The car started driving off but a couple of the men were still outside and were running behind it, bashing on the window so they could get it to stop and they could jump in.

"When I got up to the jewellers, I saw the windows were only partially smashed but they hadn't made a hole.

"I wouldn't think they could have put their hands through to grab anything.

"It's really shocking that something like this has happened. You don't expect it."