POLICE believe armed men who grabbed £250,000 of jewellery from an Oxford shop may have fled on the train.

Officers found a blue Vauxhall Astra Merit car abandoned in Woodbine Place, near Oxford railway station, and were checking to see if the criminals caught the train.

Another blue Astra, found abandoned in Merton Street on the day of the raid, is believed to have been used by the gang, and police were trying to find out if there was a third getaway car.

Terrified shop staff were held up at gunpoint after two men walked into Rowell Silversmiths in Turl Street, on Monday morning and ordered everyone to lie on the floor.

One member of staff was hit on the head.

The robbers, believed to be armed with handguns, grabbed the jewellery and ran from the shop before escaping in a waiting blue Astra, driven by a third man.

The car was discovered abandoned 20 minutes later in Merton Street. The second car, a G-reg Astra, was found yesterday in Woodbine Place. It had been stolen from Newbury, Berkshire.

Brave staff re-opened the shop yesterday.

Company chairman Stephen Pritchard praised workers for keeping calm during the ordeal.

Anyone with information about the robbery, the second at the shop in four years, should call 01865 266333.

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