THUGS assaulted a delivery driver in Prestwich before making off with more than £20,000 worth of jewellery.

The rush-hour raid took place outside Leslie Donn jewellers just before 5pm on Monday, December 21 when the driver was going back to his van in Bury Old Road.

Two men approached him from behind, pushed him in the back and demanded he hand over a security box. It is unclear whether or not they were armed.

The driver fell to the snow-covered ground and dropped the box.

It contained six items of jewellery, worth a total of £20,000, but police have not revealed what the missing items were. The men fled with the box to the back of the jewellers, where they escaped in a 2003-registered black car. Det Con Andrew Pidd, of Bury CID, said: “The victim was a delivery driver simply making his rounds when he was threatened and robbed.

“The incident happened on a busy road at a time when there would have been a lot of people about.

“If you saw anything or noticed anyone in the area beforehand acting suspiciously, please call me.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Bury CID on 0161 856 8210 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Company representative Jeremy Donn declined to comment on the incident.