A JEWELLERY store has been badly damaged in a sledgehammer raid this morning (Tuesday).

Police have cordoned off Ernest Jones, on the ground floor of the Howard Centre in WGC, after two robbers used a sledgehammer to smash a shop window displaying Rolex watches, shortly before 9am.

A police helicopter is currently hovering over the town, hunting for two male suspects, believed to be in their 20s.

Greg Peck, manager of JD Sports, opposite the scene of the raid, told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: “I heard it more than anything.

“It was just a really loud thud to start off with then repeated thuds because they kept hitting the glass.

“I saw the guy taking big swings at it.”

He added: “I think they got away with a couple of Rolexes.”

And fellow eyewitness Kamran Gohar, who works on the Sky TV promotional stand also opposite the jewellery store, said: “There were two guys, they were wearing helmets and got a big hammer.

“A security guard tried to get hold of them but couldn’t and called some one on the wireless.”

Police could not confirm as yet whether any watches were stolen, but one onlooker said: “They obviously knew what they were going for.”