CCTV footage has been released showing the moment a group of masked robbers raided a jewellery shop in Manchester and made off with £186,820 worth of watches.

In the video a group of men, dressed in black and donning balaclavas, break into the jewellery shop in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. As one threatens a member of staff with a meat cleaver, another disables the smoke-deploying security system in the main foyer.

Smoke from another room then filters out through the shop, causing the group to run off with 13 watches stolen. They escaped in a black Land Rover, which was later found abandoned nearby.

The incident happened on 10 June with Greater Manchester Police saying that they believe the thieves subsequently got into a white Mercedes before fleeing. They have now released the CCTV footage in the hope that members of the public can come forward with new information.