FOUR men who stopped an axe-wielding robber from stealing £42,500-worth of jewellery from Carter & Son Jewellers in Salisbury, have been rewarded for their bravery.

Eric Holmes, joint owner of the shop on Minster Street, received the Flavian Medal for bravery, alongside Jeremy Harris, at Gloucestershire county council chambers on Friday, November 14.

They were presented with the medals by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Mr Henry Elwas, for their heroics on August 22 this year.

The two other men, John Parry, 25, a soldier from Bulford, and Ian Smith, were not able to attend the presentation.

Mr Holmes, 57, said: "It was a very good social event - there was a buffet as well as the presentations in the Gloucester offices, and it was a very pleasant evening.

"It was very humbling to be presented with the medals like that - it is not something I expected.

"I would also like to thank the men who couldn't attend."

The Flavian Medal Society was established this by a group of Martial Arts experts from around the world.

It awards medals to people for courage or acts of gallantry and bravery in times of crisis.

The society was alerted to the good deeds of the four men by reading a report on the Salisbury Journal website.

Mr Holmes restrained the thief after he had smashed a hole in the Carter & Son jewellery shop window with an

axe and grabbed two diamond bracelets worth £42,500.

Mr Holmes tackled the thief outside the shop and received a blow to the head in the process, before the three other men rushed to assist him.

After the incident, the police praised their actions.

Derek Jones, 34, of Bath, was remanded in custody and is awaiting trial at Crown Court.