A £10,000 REWARD is being offered for information which could lead to the capture and conviction of armed robbers who grabbed £250,000 of jewellery from an Oxford shop.

Two men armed with handguns burst into Rowell Silversmiths in Turl Street at 9.20am on Monday and ordered staff to lie on the floor.

They fled in a waiting blue Vauxhall Astra driven by a third man and the car was found abandoned 20 minutes later in Merton Street.

Loss adjusters acting for Rowell's insurers are now offering the substantial reward and are also promising to pay out if the jewellery is recovered.

Oxford police spokesman Duncan McGraw said: "It is important for the public to help us catch these armed robbers.

"Members of the public can play their part by coming forward to give information which could lead to a successful police case."

Police found a second abandoned blue Astra in Woodbine Place, near Oxford railway station, and believe that a number of gang members made their getaway by train.

Detectives also want to speak to the owners of two cars seen near the shop on the morning of the raid. One was a red Porsche 911 and the other was a white Ford Escort van.

They would also like to trace the driver of a dark Volkswagen Golf GTi seen speeding along King Edward Street at the time of the robbery.

Anyone with information should telephone Oxford police on 01865 266333.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.