A retired Jewish diamond dealer has described his relief that his valuables were overlooked by the thieves who carried out the Hatton Garden safety deposit heist.

Raiders broke into the vault of the Safe Deposit Ltd building in London's jewellery quarter over the Easter weekend, emptying 72 boxes and getting away with an estimated £60 million haul.

Gerry Landon said he had kept gems and family possessions in the vault for many years.

He said: "I would have been very affected if anything was taken. I am very relieved. The place is meant to be impregnable."

He added that he believed that many Jews would have lost valuables in the robbery.

"There are a lot of Jewish traders, especially jewellers in Hatton Garden, who keep things - exports from Israel - in safe deposit boxes there. It is good for keeping things overnight after a day of trading."

Mr Landon criticised police for failing to respond when an alarm was triggered during the robbery.

He said: "I cannot believe the police didn't act. It's unreal. I have reservations about keeping my things in that safe deposit building now - I will choose another place, a more secure place."

Police believe the thieves drilled through a two-metre-thick concrete wall to get into the vault. No arrests have yet been made.