Three men are being hunted by police after they tried to smash their way into a Great Yarmouth jewellery shop with sledgehammers.

Eastern Daily Press: Scene of an attempted robbery from Cox and Son Jewellers on Northgate Street in Great Yarmouth.Windows have been smashed using two sledgehammers left on the road.Picture: James BassScene of an attempted robbery from Cox and Son Jewellers on Northgate Street in Great Yarmouth.Windows have been smashed using two sledgehammers left on the road.Picture: James Bass

Staff were inside Cox and Son in Northgate Street when the would-be thieves targeted the shop just before 9.20am yesterday. The men, who were wearing dark clothes and had their faces covered, dropped two of the sledgehammers and fled the scene when they failed to break the glass.

Michael Cox, who runs the independent jewellers said: 'Fortunately no one was hurt.

'We would like to thank the witnesses who have come forward already.'

Northgate Street was closed for about an hour following the attempted raid and soon after officers arrived on the scene, the police helicopter was deployed in a bid to find the men involved.

Appealing for witnesses, investigating officer detective sergeant Mark Joyce from Yarmouth CID, said: 'There were a number of staff members inside the jewellers at the time. Fortunately no one was injured although they were understandably left shaken by what happened.

'We immediately deployed officers to the scene and following information from eye-witnesses carried out a number of searches in the local area.

'We're keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed three men acting suspiciously in the area this morning.'

The two sledgehammers left behind at the scene were seized for forensic examination.

The three suspects ran towards the Market Place before turning left onto Church Plain while making their escape.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and hasn't already spoken to police can contact DS Joyce at Yarmouth CID on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Cox and Son, a family-owned and run jewellers founded in 1875, was raided six years ago when robbers, again armed with sledgehammers, rushed into the store wearing hoods and masks and smashed a glass cabinet before escaping with watches in a waiting get-away car. A man from the Kent area was later arrested in connection with the theft.