The thieves ran off with just one guitar – a red Yamaha – but damage was caused to other equipment in the early hours attack.

The store’s guitar specialist, Neil Cowmeadow, said: “I just came in this morning to find that the window now contained four bricks.

“They knew exactly what they were doing, and exactly what they wanted, and it is a very distinctive guitar. We’ve been here two years now and this is the first time we’ve had anything like this.”

Mr Cowmeadow said that a nearby friend had come to patch up the window overnight and that it was now boarded up.

The theft and the damage altogether cost around £1,500 and the stolen Yamaha guitar has a red headstock with a black and white stripe, and is a large EX620 type.

Constable Colin Barrett said that officers had been alerted to the raid this morning by a call through the borough’s Pubwatch scheme at around 2.15am today.

“We have got a series of images from CCTV showing the offenders come down from St Alkmund’s, across the top of Wyle Cop and they have thrown a number of bricks through the window. The offenders have then run round the corner into Milk Street.”

Constable Barrett said the Yamaha guitar was worth £499, and there was also damage to two other guitars worth £199 and £169, as well as to an amplifier worth £250.

Anyone with information can call Shewsbury police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111.

Popular stories:

• Residents get speed guns
• Mixed reaction to new lights
• Find bargains with StarBidz
• CCTV cutbacks fear for town
• Town tops for customer care