THE Mayor of Bury has vowed to carry on as normal after her chains – worth £200,000 – were stolen in a violent robbery.

A £10,000 reward has been offered for the safe return of Cllr Michelle Wiseman’s ceremonial chains after two men attacked the mayor’s driver.

Police believe the attack, which happened in Stonemere Drive at around 10.15pm last night, could have been pre-planned.

The Mayor’s driver Jet Vyas was placing a briefcase containing the Mayor’s chains and those of the Mayoress, Danielle Wiseman, into the boot of a car when he was hit on the shoulder with a hammer by a man in a balaclava.

The man grabbed the briefcase, which is black with aluminium trim, from the boot and jumped into a waiting green VW  Polo saloon which was driven off by an accomplice.

At a press conference held at Bury Town Hall today, the Mayor said she was “in shock” but the attack was not going to stop her from carrying out her duties.

She added: “It was a violent, terrifying attack and I am so glad Jet was not more badly injured.

“It is not just the fact that the chains have been taken which has shocked me, it is the violence that was used against Jet which was totally unforgiveable.

“It is just as important for us to bring these people to justice for the violence they have shown as for what they have taken.

“This is not going to stop me going out to meet the residents of Bury.”

The Mayor’s chain, known as the Bury chain, is worth £200,000, although its ounce for ounce value as gold is considerably less. It was given to the Mayor of Bury in 1877.

The Mayoress’ chain, for which the value is not known, is known as the Radcliffe chain and is one of only five ever made. It features a ceramic of Queen Victoria dressed in white and is extremely rare.

While Cllr Wiseman’s public activities will be curtailed this week she is still set to lead Bury’s Remembrance Sunday parade at the weekend and will wear her alternative Whitefield chains.

Shortly before the attack she had been guest of honour at Radcliffe’s first ever festival of remembrance, leaving this event at Radcliffe Civic Suite at around 10pm.

The Deputy Mayor Cllr Sharon Briggs and her Mayoress Shirley Rabbit were also in the car at the time of the attack and were wearing their chains.

Cllr Wiseman added: “ Last night was a commemoration of the brave soldiers who carried on – and that is what I will do, because that is what I am here for. This is not going to stop me.”

Mr Vyas suffered muscle damage and severe bruising to his left shoulder in the attack and was treated at the scene before being taken to North Manchester General Hospital. He has now been released and is recovering at home.

In 2010, he and another council attendant foiled a bid by a drunken man to steal the same chain from then-mayor Cllr Farook Choudry by fighting the man off.

Mike Owen, Bury Council’s executive director of resources and regulation, said all other Mayors in Greater Manchester had been warned of the attack and a security review will now be carried out.  

This morning the green VW saloon getaway car was found abandoned in Aldwyn Close, just minutes from the scene of the robbery, and police are carrying out door to door enquiries.

Dave Sinclair, Detective Inspector at Whitefield Police Station, said: “Be assured, we are doing all we can behind the scenes to bring these criminals to justice.”

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the car, or anything suspicious, in the Stonemere Drive area between 9pm and 10.30pm yesterday to get in touch.

Officers have also asked jewellers and gold-melting businesses to call if they are approached with similar chains. 

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the idependent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 55 111.