var data = [
{ refNum: 'a1', items: [{name: 'item 1'}, {name: 'item 2'}] },
{ refNum: 'b4', items: [{name: 'item 3'}, {name: 'item 4'}] }
];
var items = [];
$scope.$watch('data',function ( nv, ov ) {
angular.forEach(nv, function ( item ) {
items.push(item);
});
});
// ng-repeat in html over items