Sledgehammer-wielding thugs were arrested after their attempts to raid a jewellers were thwarted by have-a-go heroes.

Sledgehammer-wielding thugs were arrested after their attempts to raid a jewellers were thwarted by have-a-go heroes.

Incredible CCTV footage from the scene show the brazen robbers raiding Coleby's Jewellers - a spot popular with TOWIE stars - for diamonds and watches worth thousands of pounds in Billericay, Essex.

The gang screeched to a halt outside the store on four mopeds, using one bike to try and batter their
way into the shop.

As one of the gang repeatedly rams his vehicle into the door to keep it ajar, the rest of the crew smash the windows with their hammers and sledgehammers.

Moment have-a-go heroes chase off sledgehammer-wielding gang

The robbers carrying sledgehammers try to smash their way into Coleby's Jewellers

But one brave passerby was seen taking matters into his own hands and hurls a wooden sign at the gang members as they try to blitz their way into the jewellers.

A thug then picks up a hammer from the pavement and heads off to chase the man who threw the sign at him, but a blue van driver mounts the kerb and rams one of the mopeds, stopping them in their tracks.

The yobs then begin to launch a barrage of blows against the van as it reverses, forcing them to leave Coleby's Jewellers empty handed and on foot.