A COUPLE were subjected to a terrifying experience when they awoke to find a gang of masked men in their home, brandishing weapons and demanding money.

The ordeal began in the early hours of Tuesday morning when the couple found the masked men in their house in Lamberhurst Road, Horsmonden, near Tunbridge Wells.

For about 20 minutes the gang searched the house for money and continually threatened them.

The men then left, taking a quantity of cash with them, which the couple, who are aged 63 and 72, had saved from their retirement. It is believed the robbers made off over farmland.

They also took a mobile phone and cut the home telephone line, leaving the couple unable to dial 999 immediately. The pair had to walk to a public phone box to raise the alarm.

Det Insp Richard Leahy said: “This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable couple living in a comparatively remote area of the Weald. They were subjected to an aggressive ordeal where they were - and remain - terrified and traumatized.”

Police patrols raced to the scene as soon as the alarm was raised and several officers are now working on the investigation.

Police have descriptions of two of the offenders. The first is a white male, aged between 18 and 25, 5ft 2 to 5ft 3, of slight build and with a southern accent. He was wearing a navy zip-up front tracksuit, top and gloves and had a white mask covering his mouth and nose and with eyeholes cut out of it.

The second was also a white male, of heavy build with broad shoulders, aged 25 to 28 years old and 5ft 8 to 5ft 10 tall. He was wearing a light blue waterproof coat with a hood and a stocking mask with eyeholes cut out.

Det Insp Leahy said: “It is believed that the offenders would have local knowledge and the description of the offenders is reasonably distinctive. Any person, especially anyone who lives locally, who may recognise someone they know personally, is asked to contact me at Ashford Police Station on 01233 619188.

Alternatively, people with information can call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555111.