A JEWELLER has told of the moment a man burst into his shop and ran out with more than £40,000 worth of stock.

Mark Woods, owner of Topps Jewellers in Sittingbourne High Street, said he and his 21-year-old daughter Katie, were serving customers in his shop on Friday afternoon when the man ran into the store.

He said: "This guy just burst through the front door wearing a scarf round his face. He starting shouting 'get down, get down' and making threats. We all got on the floor. He jumped over the counter and grabbed a load of stuff from the window display, put it in his bag and ran out of the shop.

"One of the customers in here at the time had his mobile on him so while he was behind the counter he rang the police."

Mr Woods, 49, who has been running the family business in the town for 29 years, said they just instinctively ran out of the store after the man. He was caught at the graveyard in St Michael's Church and held until police arrived.

A 19-year-old has been arrested and charged with robbery. He will appear before Maidstone Crown Court on December 21.