TWO men have been injured during an attempted robbery at a Bradford jewellers.

Witnesses say a group of masked men attacked one of the owners of Master Jewellers and another man outside the shop in Horton Grange Road at about 11.45 am today.

Passers by reportedly came to their aid and the gang then fled.

Police were called to a report of a vehicle on fire in nearby Flaxton Place shortly after 12pm.

The caller said they had seen a male running from the vehicle who was believed to still be in the area.

Officers attended and found a grey Fiat 500 burned out, said a West Yorkshire Police spokesman.

Damage had also been caused to another vehicle by the blaze.

Inquiries are continuing as to whether the car fire is linked to the robbery which led to two men in their 40s being taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious, the spokesman added.

Police officers were standing guard outside the shop this afternoon, with the property cordoned off at the junction with Spencer Road.

The shutters on the building were down, but staff could be seen inside talking to crime scene investigation officers. 

One staff member said he did not want to discuss details of the incident, but confirmed that one of the injured men was a partner in the business.

The other man was described as a “customer and friend” of the shop. 

Anyone with information about either incident has been urged to contact Bradford District CID on 101, quoting log reference 635 of 6 September.

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.