Police in Trafford are appealing for witnesses after a robbery at a jewellers on Thursday 28 September by a man posing as an undercover police officer.

At around 11.25am a man entered the Perry Chapel Jewellers in Timperley village and told the staff he was an undercover police officer and that there was about to be a robbery at the premises.

He had a black notebook, which had a crest on it, and also had what appeared to be an identification badge hung around his neck.

He told them that he should take the expensive jewellery as a precaution.

He then ran out of the shop across Thorley Lane and onto Stockport Road, passing the Co-op on his left and turning left onto Mayfield road.

The offender got away with a several thousand pounds worth of jewellery.

He is described as mixed race, mid 30s, medium build, 5'10", clean-shaven with a shaven head. He was wearing a brown checked shirt with dark blue tracksuit bottoms.

Det Con Mark Astbury from Stretford CID said: "Although in this case the staff did think they had seen an ID badge, I can't stress enough the importance of asking to see formal identification. When approached by someone claiming to be a police officer don't be embarrassed to ask for ID, and if you are in any doubt whatsoever a genuine officer would not have a problem with someone phoning to check they are who they say they are."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Stretford CID on 0161 856 7669 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.