BREAKING NEWS: Armed robbery at city jewellers
Police confirm gun shots fired at Leslie Davis
Armed robbers brought terror to the centre:mk today firing a gun and CS gas amid Christmas shoppers.
People reported up to five gun shots in crowded Middleton Hall where mums and toddlers had flocked to visit the Christmas display.
The scene was described by witnesses as chaos as around a third of the centre was hurriedly cleared and cordoned off.
Police have confirmed Leslie Davis, the jewellers on Eagle Walk, was the raiders' target.
It was also confirmed a gun had been fired and what is believed to be CS Gas let off in the shop.
It's understood no-one was hurt.
Shopper Rebecca Mayfield, from Dunstable, was about to go into a store nearby when she heard someone shout: "They've got a gun!"
She turned to see two men in the window of Leslie Davis grabbing watches from the display.
"We ran into the toy shop nearby and as we did do two shots rang out and some gas was fired.
"My heart was in my mouth. A lady at the back of the shop fainted."
Jeanette Carrington, manager of AppleSnow women's clothing store, said: "There was a lot of screaming as hundreds of people were running along the boulevard.
"I heard three loud bangs, I thought it was a terrorist attack."
Rachel Keeler from Old Stratford, who was shopping nearby, said: " I heard three or four shots.
"People were running around screaming."
Steven Lord, 18, from Newport Pagnell works in Clarks shoe shop close to the jewellers.
He said: "We managed to get some customers away to safety up the stairs.
"We put people with prams and buggies at the back of the shop and brought down the shutters. It was pretty scary."
His manager was in tears as she told the Citizen: "All I was worried about were my staff, our customers and the mums and children in my shop.
"Some of the customers were so scared when they heard the shots they just ran straight upstairs to our stock room to hide.
"Outside we could hear people shouting 'duck down'. It is terrifying."
The Centre is now closed along a 100m stretch of Silbury Boulevard.It includes department store Bhs and Austin Reed.
Centre spokesman Mike Graham confirmed there was a "smash and grab" incident. He would not comment further.
A police helicopter is circling above, while anxious shoppers wait for further news.
At least one ambulance is on the scene.
Leslie Davis sells a range of expensive watches including Rolex, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Omega. It also sells a number of diamonds and other jewellery.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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