Masked raiders tied up four members of staff and badly beat two of them in a “well-organised professional” raid on a Shropshire jewellery firm.

Police said the gang had been laying in wait for staff to arrive for work at Curteis Chains in Dudleston.

The gang then used a “fairly high level of violence”, beating several of them and kicking them around the head when they pounced shortly after 7am yesterday.

The gang of three or four masked men were at the premises for about 45 minutes before driving off with a quantity of goods. Detective Inspector Mick Homden, the senior investigating officer, said today more than a dozen officers were working on the investigation.

He appealed for information, including sightings of the getaway car.

“We have been able to establish, from CCTV footage and also several sightings after the attack, their car was a silver Audi A4 estate.” he said.

“We know it arrived at the premises at 7am, but it may have been in the locality earlier. The gang members were lying in wait for the first employee to arrive to open the doors at 7.10am.

“They remained on the premises for about 45 minutes, during which a fairly high level of violence was used towards staff, several of whom were beaten and kicked around the head.”

DI Homden said the robbers drove off at speed and were spotted in Ellesmere driving towards The Mere “erratically and dangerously”. He added: “It’s possible the offenders are from outside the Shropshire area.  They appeared to be a well-organised professional gang.

“The robbers are likely to have previously reconnoitred the premises, so we would also like to hear from anyone who spotted suspicious activity in the area over the past few weeks.”

Two men were treated at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for cuts and bruising. They have now been discharged. Officers are liaising with neighbouring forces.

Henry Curteis, the owner and director of the business, speaking from the Phillipines today, said he heard weapons had been used in the robbery, but not guns.

He said he expected the business to remain closed today and he did not know what had been taken.

He said: “I have not yet had a proper report as to what has happened. I haven’t spoken to the people involved in the incident.”

By Deborah Collins