Brave restaurant staff waded in to try and stop a robbery at a jewellers yesterday afternoon, according to witnesses.

Time Gold Jewellers in The Broadway, Woodford Green, was targeted at around 11.30am yesterday.

Vicky Feldman, who runs She She She clothes shop nearby, said: “I saw four men walk past my shop with their hoods pulled tight over their faces.

“I had a feeling something wasn’t right and went to get my phone from upstairs to call the police.

“When I came down there was a massive commotion, they shot past the shop and a chef from Seasons across the road came running after them.”

Another shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: “I could see the boys from Seasons having a fight with some men in hoods outside the jewellers and then they legged it up the street.

“It took quite a while for the police to arrive, but they came and there was also a helicopter in the air which I think was looking for the gang.

“I must say the boys from Seasons were incredibly brave.”

The incident comes a month after a gang robbed a Securicor guard outside NatWest in The Broadway.

Rachel Feldman of She She She clothing shop said: “I was attacked in the shop in February by a woman.

“What with that and the two robberies I don’t feel particularly safe working here at the moment.

“The police were brilliant after what happened to me, but it would be nice to have a bit more of a visible presence down here.

“I’m not saying they need to be here all the time, but we see less police out here than we did when the shop opened four years ago.”

Time Gold jewellers is closed today. Seasons restaurant is not yet open.

A spokesman for Redbridge police said the incident was dealt with by the Flying Squad.

The Guardian is awaiting a statement from the Metropolitan Police.