Jewellery worth several thousand pounds has been stolen in a raid on a Dartford shop.

Burglars smashed a window at Bradley's, in Hythe Street, and used a pickaxe and crowbar to pull off the shutter.

They were discovered to have escaped with valuable items when police were called at between 1.45am and 1.55am after an alarm was heard.

DC Richard Debnam, from Kent Police, urged anyone who might have witnessed the attack on the shop, or saw any vehicles in the area at the time, to come forward.

He said: "Entry to the shop was gained by the offenders smashing the window and pulling a shutter off with a pick axe and a crowbar.

"While this burglary happened in the early hours of the morning, I would ask anyone that might have witnessed the incident or seen a vehicle acting suspiciously in the area to contact me as soon as possible.

"I would also note a word of caution; while we are all looking for Christmas bargains at this time of year, if you are offered a deal that seems too good to be true then it most probably is. If you have concerns about where items of jewellery might have come from, call us immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to phone DC Debnam on 01474 366096, quoting reference XY/40641/14, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.