Eight-year-old girl and her 82-year-old grandfather threatened at knife point in Penwortham home

The incident happened at a house on Hawkhurst Road at 6pm when four men forced their way into the property.

They ransacked the house, stealing cash and personal property and escaped in a dark coloured 'SUV-style' vehicle.

DC Nick Steenbergen from Chorley Police said: “This is a shocking incident which must have been terrifying for the victims - an elderly man and a child - who were threatened in the place they should be most safe, their home.

“Thankfully, the victims were not physically hurt during the burglary but have been left extremely shaken.

“These individuals were prepared to use weapons and threats in order to steal and we are following a number of lines of enquiry in order to identify them.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious, particularly a dark coloured SUV style vehicle, to contact us. I would especially appeal to anyone who has dash cam or CCTV footage to get in touch”.

The offenders are described as white, between 5ft 5ins to 5ft 7ins tall and aged in their mid-twenties to early thirties.

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting log number 1084 of November 28 or email 65@lancashire.police.uk.

Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Thank you for reading this article. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is only £1 for your first month. Please give it a try today by clicking here.