THE two main culprits in London's £40million jewellery heist had their faces altered by an unwitting make-up artist before the raid, it has been claimed.

A professional cosmetician – more used to preparing stars for Hollywood movies - was conned into thinking the duo were to star in a pop video, so agreed to artificially age their faces using 'liquid latex' techniques, according to reports.

Therefore the men the police are looking for may look nothing like the duo on the CCTV footage.

A 50-year-old man was arrested in Ilford on Monday in connection with the robbery and later released on bail.

The raid last week was the biggest of its kind in Britain with detectives suspecting the items may have been stolen to order, with insider information.

Police have also revealed the two getaway cars used had false number plates.

Two men walked into Graff Jewellers in New Bond Street W1 at 4:40pm on Thursday, August 6 - having arrived in a black Hackney carriage - and both threatened staff with handguns.

Officers have also recovered a gun but said that it was not the handgun used by the raiders outside Graff jewellers in New Bond Street on 6 August.

Two cars used in the raid, a silver Mercedes B-class registration LV06 HFA and a blue VW Sharan, registration RA07 XEV, have not been recovered.

Police have appealed for anyone who has seen the cars to contact them.

No-one was hurt in the raid, but a female employee was dragged outside by the pair who fired a shot into the ground to warn off pursuing members of the public.

A total of 43 items, including a pair of white round diamond double-hoop earrings and a yellow diamond flower necklace, was stolen.