Hooded thieves staged a daring smash and grab raid at a shop in a Shropshire market town as restaurant customers dined just yards away.

The thieves struck at the Wenlock Collection in High Street, Much Wenlock, last night as diners at the Bilash restaurant directly opposite watched in shock.

The three raiders arrived at the scene in a silver coloured sporty hatchback at about 10.15pm.

One of the men, who were all wearing dark coloured hoodies pulled up to hide their faces, jumped out of the car and began trying to force open the shop door with his foot.

Witnesses say he eventually managed to kick in the main panel of the door and an accomplice dashed into the shop.

The culprits then sped away the wrong way up the one-way High Street towards the main Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury road.

It is believed they got away with thousands of pounds worth of designer handbags, lamps, porcelain and pottery from the small shop.

Witnesses were able to give police the registration number of the raiders’ car.

One witness, who did not want to be identified, said: “At first it seemed that it was a ram-raid, but the robbers kicked in the door. One man came out of a pub nearby and challenged the raiders but they ignored him and sped away. But he was able to get the car’s registration.”

Richard Ewels, of West Mercia Police, today appealed for anyone with information to contact police on 0300 3333000.

He said the raiders’ car was showing stolen number plates which were taken from a silver coloured Vauxhall Astra parked at the Mytton and Mermaid Hotel in Atcham, near Shrewsbury, between 7pm and 10pm.