Welshpool jeweller foils CS gas robbers

A jeweller was sprayed in the face with CS gas and hit with a crowbar when armed robbers burst into his shop. But he fought back and the raiders fled empty-handed.

Robbers broke into Stewart Woodings' County Goldsmiths shop, in Welshpool, just as he was about to shut at 5pm yesterday.

He said today: "Three men, dressed in black with shades and balaclavas, sprayed me with CS spray in the eyes and all hell broke loose. I thought I wasn't going to let them get anything so I started throwing punches at them.

"There was a struggle and I had a hard hit across the back which was from a crowbar they were carrying.

"During the scuffle the glass cabinet broke, but I managed to keep fighting and eventually they fled empty-handed.

"If things hadn't have gone as they had, I could well have been £250,000 out of pocket this morning."

Mr Woodings said he be-lieved the raiders had seen an advert in Friday's Shropshire Star promoting a sale.

"They obviously saw my advert and thought I would have plenty of cash in the safe at the end of they day that they could have," he said. "But despite it being terrifying, instinct just kicked in and I managed to get rid of them and the police arrived soon after.

"I am OK today and despite being told not to open, I am opening as normal. I won't let them win."

Antony Topazio, Dyfed Powys Police spokesman, said: "We are investigating an attempted robbery at a jewellers in Church Street, Welshpool, shortly before 5pm."

He said once the raiders left the shop they headed to-wards Brookfield Road. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.