A cunning thief swindled a Redruth jewellers out of a £395 diamond ring just before Christmas.

The man was viewing a tray of rings when he distracted staff at Roy Doble Jewellers for an instant and quickly swapped the diamond and 18ct gold ring for a white gold ring worth a lot less.

Owner of the shop, Roy Doble, told the Packet: "One of those silly things. It was an almost identical ring and he was a slick person who switched the rings very quickly."

The robbery took place on the Friday before Christmas and Mr Doble said the shop, on Alma Place, had been very busy at the time.

The thief, who entered the shop with a woman, was caught on security cameras and police are now looking for him and the ring.

He was described as between 6ft and 6ft 2in tall, with fair hair, cut in a short back and sides style. He had an oval face with a large nose and was wearing a blue fleece and jeans.

The ring was an 18ct gold ring with diamonds on the shoulders and solitaire diamond set in a claw.

PC Quentin McCameron from Camborne Police Station has appealed for anyone who has information on either the stolen ring or the white gold replacement the thief switched it for to contact him on 08452 777444.