THE owner of a watch repair shop was held at gunpoint as two men stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery on Monday morning.

Mark Langly (42) and a terrified female customer feared for their lives when the men wearing balaclavas and brandishing a hand gun and hammer burst into the Watch and Clock repairers in Tongham and kicked Mr Langly to the ground.

"We heard a loud screech as a white Escort pulled up directly outside the shop. I ran towards the door and the men charged past me and kicked me," said Mr Langly.

"We were told to lie on the floor and one shouted 'stay on the floor or you'll get shot'. They were extremely aggressive screaming obscenities and were very hyped up.

"The gun looked real enough but even if it had just been semi-automatic or an air pistol it would still have done some damage at such close range."

One of the men smashed a glass cabinet with the hammer and took a number of items worth more than £10,000, including a man's Rolex bracelet watch worth £4,500, an identity bracelet worth £700 and another bracelet worth £1,500.

The items they stole and the way in which they carried out the robbery led Mr Langly to believe they were inexperienced robbers.

"They were wearing homemade balaclavas and they went for the bulkier stuff which has lower retail value."

After the pair had left the shop Mr Langly got up from the floor and headed towards the door.

However, one of the men returned and kicked him to the floor again before taking more items of jewellery.

A witness outside was then struck twice around the neck with the gun, and an elderly woman walking along the pavement was threatened with the gun which was held to her face.

Mr Langly watched as they pair drove away, heading through the Longacre estate which made him think they were local and knew the area well.

The car then turned left onto Poyle Road and was later found abandoned in Murrells Road, Ash.

Although the men were wearing balaclavas, from their physical presence, Mr Langly thinks they are in their mid- twenties to early thirties and are of a short but stocky build.

The shop has been targeted before but only by early-morning break-ins when clocks and jewellery were stolen, and never during the day.

Mr Langly added: "In this trade you do expect thefts but nothing prepares you for this. Fortunately the customer stayed calm and didn't get hysterical although afterwards she was shaking and I made her a cup of tea."

Police are now examining the car and collecting statements from witnesses.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious should contact Detective Constable Mark John at Guildford police station on 01483 531111.