Robbers smashed their way into a shopping centre last night to rob a jewellers shop.

Three men broke in through doors by the toilets at the back of the Ashley Centre in Epsom just before midnight, according to sources.

The thieves smashed the glass window of Ernest Jones, which sells gold and diamond jewellery and watches, and grabbed an unknown quantity of items.

The smash and grab robbery only took a matter of minutes and the robbers are believed to have escaped through the route they entered.

The Ashley Centre is open as usual today but the door used for the break-in and Ernest Jones have been boarded up. Police are at the scene.

A spokeswoman at the centre said: "We are working closely with the police regarding this incident and the damage caused is currently being repaired.

"The Ashley Centre is open as usual and we hope the work will cause minimum disruption to shoppers today."