THOUSANDS of pounds worth of antiques have been stolen in a smash and grab raid at a Gosport antique shop.

Silverware and a chandelier were taken after the front window of Village Antiques was smashed.

It was raided at 12.15am this today.

Four white males, said to be 18 to 20 years old, were seen helping themselves through the open window at the Village Road shop in Alverstoke.

It is believed that they all had short, dark hair. One man was seen heading towards Green Road.

The haul included silver trinkets and pill boxes in leatherette pouches with the shop's insignia on.

Shopkeeper Julie Edwards, who lost about £2,000 worth of stock in the smash and grab said it could force her out of Alverstoke.

"This is a terrible body blow to me. I might move to Gosport, people are too scared to do anything round here. I know that sounds contradictory, but I'm sure people saw it happen and did nothing. That frightens me."