THREE people have been charged over the theft of a watch worth £12,000.

The watch was taken from Watches and Coins in Oxford Street, Brighton, at about 2.15pm on Wednesday.

A trio of thieves were reported to have swiped the watch before making off in a black vehicle.

Officers tracked the vehicle to the A23 shortly afterwards, stopping it and arresting two men and a women inside. The watch was recovered.

Florentin Niculae, 45, of no fixed address, George Paun, 28, of no fixed address, and Stela Sava, 23, of Boundary Road in London, have been charged with robbery.

They have been remanded in custody to appear in court on Thursday.