A Great Clacton jeweller has spoken about how he was robbed at knifepoint.

Michael Stone, 42, who owns the Cash Call pawnbrokers in Great Clacton, had his shirt ripped by the robber before the man leapt over the counter and threatened him with a knife.

The robber, wearing a black blazer, black shirt and carrying a black bag, went into the store at about 9.30am on Saturday.

He approached Mr Stone and asked him about a Rolex watch in the window worth £3,000.

Mr Stone said: "This bloke came in. He was smartly dressed and didn't look threatening.

"He asked to see the watch and I got it out, then turned to show him a catalogue price. When I turned back he had a knife and grabbed my shirt.

"My shirt ripped and I fell back. I managed to activate the panic button and the alarm went off but he kept coming.

"I was thinking 'Well, he has got the watch he must want to stab me'."

But as Mr Stone lay behind the counter the robber's accomplice called in the shop and the pair fled to a black car, believed to have been parked in the Somerfields car park behind the pawnbrokers.

They snatched the watch as they fled.

They were chased through the busy shopping area by a man who walked past the robbers on his way into Cash Call.

One resident of North Road, Great Clacton, who did not wish to be named, said he saw the men leave the pawnbrokers.

He said: "They were not hanging about. They just came out and took off."

A spokesman for Clacton police said: "We have a good description of the men involved and stand a good chance of tracing them."

The spokesman said police are not linking the raid to any other robberies in the area. The man with the knife is described as white, 40 years old, stocky with neat short hair. The accomplice was 37 years old and was wearing a bright t-shirt and dark sunglasses.

Anyone with information should contact Clacton police on 01255 221312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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