A GANG on motorbikes tried to smash the front window of a town centre jewellers with sledgehammers during a raid on Friday afternoon.

Footage sent to the Star shows GS Milton on Ormskirk Street, St Helens being struck at about 4.45pm by the gang, who fled the scene of scrambler motorbikes.

The gang of four - two riders and two pillion passengers - can be seen battering away at the store before riding away. 

Detectives investigating the attempted burglary are asking members of the public to come forward with photographs and video footage.

Police say four men dressed in dark clothing and wearing distinctive helmets arrived at the jewellers on two scrambler bikes from the direction of Bridge Street.

The gang then tried to smash the front windows of the premises.

They were unsuccessful and made off empty-handed onto Westfield Street, before heading in the direction of Page Moss and Dovecot.

Staff at the jewellers were unharmed but left shaken by the incident, police added.

Detective inspector Ian Hussey from St Helens CID said: "We are currently pursuing a number of lines of enquiry to identify the four males responsible for this incident.

“This took place at a busy time of day when people were shopping or making their way home from work, and we are aware that a number of bystanders may have filmed or taken photographs of what happened on their cameras and mobile phones.

"We would ask anyone who has such footage to supply it to us so we can identify the people responsible and bring them to justice."

The attempted break-in happened in clear view of pedestrians and passengers on passing buses.

One man is seen in the pictures strolling by the gang despite the commotion going on around him.

However, others were terrified.

As smoke from a security device surrounded the shop, the Star spoke to several parents whose children had been nearby as the drama unfolded.

One young mum said two of the bikers narrowly missed her young daughter who was stood nearby as they fled the scene.

One witness, who was with his son, told the Star: "We couldn't believe it. They came up past Nat West.

"A bus was coming in the opposite direction and they nearly hit it - so they mounted the kerb and then just went at the jewellers.

"There was four of them - wearing helmets and it seemed as though they were there for a couple of minutes before riding away.

"They nearly hit a little girl. It was scary - my little boy is upset."

Other witnesses suggested the riders were pursued by an unmarked police car.

Contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.