THE manageress of a jewellers has spoken of her terror after her shop was raided by armed robbers.

The woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, was held up at gun and knifepoint by two white men wearing crash helmets.

They entered Robert James Jewellers, Queensway, Petts Wood, at 3.50pm last Friday and demanded keys to the window display.

Following the robbery, the men fled on an orange trial bike down Franks Wood Avenue, in the direction of Bromley Common.

A police helicopter joined the search for them but at the time of going to press, they had not been found.

Despite the incident, the manageress, who has worked at the shop for six years, says it is business as usual.

She said: "I was booking Christmas stock in the back office when they walked in.

"One said This is a robbery' and demanded the keys to the front display window.

"I handed them over and they started taking trays of rings and other jewellery.

"The shorter one was holding a black handgun in front of him and was shouting and being very aggressive.

"The taller one had a knife - he showed it to me by holding it parallel to my throat."

The men, thought to be aged between 25 and 30 years old, spent about 10 minutes in the shop, telling the manageress not to press any panic buttons as they left.

What they didn't know was the owner, Mr James, was still in the back office and had already done so.

The manageress added: "I was absolutely petrified but I was very calm on the outside. I just wanted them to go.

"If it had been kids I could have handled them but these guys knew what they were doing.

"I think we must have been watched - I had a definite sense the taller one had been in that week.

"Petts Wood customers and other shopkeepers have been fabulous. We've had flowers, chocolates and cards and we would like to thank everyone.

"Reluctantly we are now having to look at further security measures but it's business as usual - we won't let them beat us."

The shop is currently stocktaking following the robbery and will speak to insurers this week.

The taller man is described as around 6ft tall, with a fair complexion, wearing faded jeans and dirty white trainers.

The shorter man, at around 5ft 6in tall, wore a khaki jumper.

Both men wore black gloves.

Anyone with information should call Tower Bridge Flying Squad on 020 7407 6319 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Petts Wood and Knoll councillor Simon Fawthrop said: "This is yet another outrage in Petts Wood, following on from recent attempted ram-raids, I don't know how anyone can claim violent crime is reducing.

"This is part of an almost continuous barrage of events which continues to shatter the peace and calm of Petts Wood.

"If anyone knows or saw anything of this incident they should report it to the police immediately, as the perpetrators of this violent crime need to be stopped."