Burglars ‘carrying hammers and axes’ fled on mopeds after a daylight robbery in Banstead High Street.

The store front of Campbells of Banstead and a display case were left shattered by the suspected raid this afternoon, according to eyewitness accounts.

One of the moped gang was said to have been knocked to the floor by a white van, leaving the bike behind, a shopper told a member of staff at a toy and stationery store across the road from the jeweller’s.

The gang were reported to be wearing dark clothing and helmets - believed to be the Boxer brand. One was said to be carrying a "bladed weapon" and officers recovered a machete nearby, Surrey Police confirmed.

Watches and jewellery were snatched during the raid, a spokesperson for the force added.

Three mopeds reportedly mounted the kerb near a cluster of barber shops at The Horseshoe end of the High Street just after 2pm on Friday (June 16), according to eyewitness accounts.

As they rode down the pavement a white van knocked one of the riders to the floor, a customer told a shop worker.

Becky, an estate agent, has lived in Banstead all her life. She said she had never known anything like this to happen in the High Street in broad daylight.

“I was at my desk when I heard someone shout out, ‘Smash and grab!’” she said.

“I started filming it on my phone. I’ve just given it to the police.”

A member of staff at Lorimers, a toy and stationery shop across the road from Campbells, had heard about the burglary from a customer.

“A customer told me that three mopeds came up and mounted the kerb,” she explained.

"She told me they had mallets – like wooden clubs.

“A white van mounted the kerb and hit one of the guys off the bike to the floor. He then ran away.”

Becky described the van driver as “quick thinking” and added: “The two others got away.

“One had two passengers, and another that had two passengers as well, and (the man who had been knocked off by the van) was telling them to wait so he could get on. He got halfway down the road and was being dragged before he ran away.”

She added: “They’ve done it at the wrong time. There were too many people there at the time.”

Surrey Police stated that it was believed the riders fled in the direction of Sutton after the raid.

The force also believes the axes and hammers may have been stolen from a homeware store in Sutton.

The Epsom Guardian has been unable to get in touch with Campbell's of Banstead.

Sergeant James Manning from Reigate and Banstead's Area Patrol Team said: "This was understandably an extremely frightening ordeal for the shop staff and something they are unlikely to forget - but thankfully nobody has been injured.

"Officers arrived at the scene within minutes and the premises has been fully secured and I would like to reassure the local community that we are doing all we can to trace the people involved in this incident."

He added: "There is no place for violent crime in our communities."

The force is now appealing for witnesses. To offer information, call 101, quoting crime reference number P17148422.

Were you in the area? Contact craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk