The Metropolitan Police are being presented with a replica of the world's most valuable diamond as a souvenir of an audacious attempted robbery.

The Millennium Star was the target of a gang of thieves when it was on display in the Millennium Dome in November 2000.

They were thwarted by the Flying Squad who were lying in wait for them at the Dome.

Now the diamond company De Beers is presenting the copy to Scotland Yard's Crime Museum.

The Millennium Star is described as flawless

Police caught the raiders red-handed when they smashed their way into the Dome on November 7 with a JCB digger.

Ninety armed officers had been moved into and around the building after a police undercover and surveillance operation.

The collection of diamonds they wanted was worth �200m, including the Millennium Star described as "a perfect diamond with absolutely no flaws".

But the diamonds had been replaced with replicas the night before the robbery.

Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens said: "Their efforts to pull off one of the largest robberies in the world in broad daylight were utterly audacious and worthy of a James Bond film plot."

Five men were sentenced to a total of 71 years in jail in February 2002 for their parts in the raid.