Armed police swooped on a high-powered speedboat as it waited to carry away the Millennium Dome raiders, the Old Bailey heard.

Members of the crack SO19 unit joined forces with river police officers to catch gang member Kevin Meredith, of Auckland Drive, Brighton, as he moored the craft near the tourist attraction.

The dramatic moments were filmed from a helicopter as police boats moved in and yesterday the jury watched the video footage.

It is alleged charter skipper Meredith, 34, was enlisted by the gang to pilot the 55mph speedboat from the Millennium pier to a waiting getaway van across the river.

But armed police intercepted Meredith and four other members of the gang inside the Dome.

Police Sergeant Clive Rew, who moved in by high-speed launch to apprehend Meredith said: "When I got to within about 70 yards of the boat I had my weapon trained on the man in the well.

"As soon as I got to within shouting distance I said, 'Armed police - stand still'."

Officers later found Meredith wearing a life jacket and carrying a high-tech transceiver and a mobile phone with an earpiece.

It is claimed the equipment was used by the boat skipper to keep in close contact with the raiders inside the Dome.

Meredith's co-accused, Robert Adams, Aldo Ciarrocchi, Raymond Betson and William Cockran were all arrested as they smashed their way into the Dome on November 7, 2000, using a specially modified JCB. Their target was two cabinets containing the unique Millennium Star gem and 11 other blue diamonds, it is alleged.

Terence Millman, 56, who died of cancer earlier in the year, was arrested in a Transit van across the river at Bow Creek. Millman, originally from Brixworth, Northants, was to be the getaway driver.

Meredith and Wayne Taylor, 35, of Collier Street, Tonbridge, deny conspiracy to rob and to steal.

Ciarrocchi, 31, of Balaclava Road, Rotherhithe, Adams, 57, and market trader Betson, 39, both of no fixed address and Cockran, 48, of Penberth Road, Catford, have admitted conspiracy to steal but all deny conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.