An eye-witness has spoken of the moment a member of the public tried to stop an armed robber escaping from PC World.

Police say staff were threatened at gunpoint during the robbery which took place at about 8am this morning in Kingston town centre.

They have refused to give details of the number of suspects although they have confirmed it is more than one, or their descriptions or the vehicle make.

Manni Roscher, manager of Etnies in Fife Road, said: "When I got in and was opening up the door there was a woman just screaming 'PC World is being robbed.'

"I just came in the shop and closed the door and all the people started shifting away.

"I could see the guy forcing the doors open [to get out]. It was a white male with a balaclava on.

"There was one guy who came and stood up to the door and was trying to stop him but the robber just gave him a push. His getaway car was parked right outside our shop."

Mr Roscher said he only saw one robber who he thought may have been hiding in the store overnight before he escaped in a silver Opal Astra along Fife Road.

A resident in a neighbouring block has already said he heard alarms go off twice in the night.

Mr Roscher said: "It is quite a mystery how he got in there. The car was outside the shop when we arrived."

Parking attendants had also seen the robber escape and taken down the number plate, he said.

He said: "I don't think he will get away with it. I'm quite shocked actually and I'm quite glad I stayed inside the shop."