Police are hunting a knife-wielding would-be jewellery thief after he was fended off by a shop owner brandishing a broom handle.

CCTV footage released by the Metropolitan Police on Friday shows the well-built attacker loitering in the doorway of the London shop, before grabbing an unsuspecting female worker round the throat.

After releasing her he set his sights on the male shop owner. Following a tense stand-off in the doorway the thief advanced, slashing the knife through the air in the owner's direction.

But he is chased off after the woman hands the shop owner a broom to use as a weapon.

The incident happened on Friday 21 October at 11.15pm in Harrolds Discount Jewellers along Dagenham Heathway.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Corner, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a violent attack which left the shop workers extremely shaken."

"They acted with great courage to fight off the suspect and were lucky to have avoided being seriously injured. We need help from the public to trace this individual before he attempts to target someone else."