A Taunton jeweller was punched repeatedly in the face and head on Monday afternoon in a violent robbery that has shaken the town.

Duncan Moore, owner of D.J. Moore Jewellers in St James Street, told the County Gazette he was lucky to be alive after being set upon by two men while a third stood guard.

After subjecting the 52-year-old to the brutal attack the men made off in a waiting car with jewellery worth around £50,000.

Detectives, who are still hunting the men, have described the incident, which took place at 4.15pm, as shocking and extremely unusual.

Mr Moore, who has traded as a jeweller in Taunton for 35 years, said: "They just said 'open the safe'.

It was a terrifying experience. "The degree of beating was absolutely not necessary at all. "I feel physically quite beaten. Mentally I'm very angry. "I'm worried that if they don't get caught they'll be able to do the same thing again.

"I was just thankful that I was able to get up this morning, look out at the fields and say thank God I'm alive. "They could have just as easily have killed me. "I feel hatred for these people."

For the full story, see today's County Gazette.