Dramatic footage captures masked raiders armed with knives and sledgehammer fleeing smoke-filled jewellery store

Masked men believed to be armed with knives , a sledgehammer and a smoke bomb raided a jewellery store.

Dramatic footage of the raid, captured on a mobile phone, saw the gang escaping with shopping bags full of loot.

It is believed that a smoke grenade was thrown into the store and a 'significant amount' of jewellery was taken.

The video shows smoke pouring from underneath the half open steel shutter with one man propping it open.

Raiders wearing black can then be seen running to a black Mercedes carrying chequered laundry bags.

Some passersby were frozen to the spot in shock with others try to chase the men.

Several witnesses have been identified and CCTV recovered for analysis – but police are keen to hear from anyone else who saw the robbery or who may have recorded mobile phone footage of the raid which took place at Pahal's Jewellery store in Soho Road, in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.

West Midlands Police detective inspector Dave Sanders, said: "This appears to have been a well-organised robbery: all of the men were masked, one held open the shutters while others threatened staff and stole valuables.