The theft took place on a busy Saturday afternoon and came after another raid at Walton's of Chester in Eastgate Street.

Cheshire Police are now hoping someone will recognise the two young men captured in the CCTV footage at the time a ring worth £25,000 and a watch worth £25,000 were stolen.

The drama unfolded at about 3.35pm when the men entered the store and asked to see a watch and the ring.

Cheshire Constabulary spokesman Rachel Hayes said: "They took the items from the display to look at and then escaped with the jewellery along
with a third man who was outside the store."

One of the offenders is described as white, with ginger or fair hair, slim build and in his late teens to early 20s.

He had fair skin, was wearing a blue T-shirt and had what was thought to be a Liverpool accent.

The other offender captured on CCTV was white, had a shaved head and what was thought to be a scar on the back of his head and was of stocky build.

He was wearing a white T-shirt and grey adidas tracksuit bottoms and also spoke with what was thought to be a Liverpool accent.

The other offender outside the store is described as white with a tan and with dark short hair.

He was wearing grey Adidas tracksuit bottoms similar to the second offender, and black trainers.

Miss Hayes added: "Anyone who recognises the men on CCTV or recognise the descriptions should contact PC Tom Davies or DC Nigel Thake on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers on confidence on 0800 555 111."

The incident happened on August 9th and came after three robbers were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for stealing a number of Breitling watches worth about £76,000 from the same store in August 2006.