Three men have been charged in connection with a break-in at a jewellery shop in Harpenden during which the manager was taken hostage.

About £150,000 worth of jewellery, including Rolex watches and diamonds, was taken from Loveweds in High Street on Wednesday, March 20.

Ashley Latimer-Bassill, of Crane Mead in Ware, Daniel Stanley from Travellers Lane in Hatfield, both 24, and 21-year-old Jamie Kalaiarasu from Archer Road in Stevenage have appeared in Hatfield Remand Court.

The shop, which opened just over a year ago, has remained closed since the break-in while staff recover from the ordeal.

However owner Josh Abraham hopes that it will reopen for business in the next few weeks.

All three men face charges of kidnap and robbery and were due to appear at St Albans Crown Court today (Wednesday).

The have all been remanded in custody.