AN elderly couple were left tied up by masked robbers who threatened them with knives after forcing their way into their house.

The robbers stole thousands of pounds and left the couple, Vic and Pauline Taylor, of Rising Bridge, bound in their home.

Mrs Taylor managed to free herself and her husband after about 45 minutes and went to a nearby telephone box to call police because the robbers had disabled their telephone.

Both were said to be very frightened and shocked but they did not suffer any physical injury.

Det Insp Tony Ronnan said: "It was a terrifying ordeal for both of them. It is totally unacceptable for anything like this to happen anywhere, let alone in someone's house.

"Their ordeal went on for about 20 minutes."

Mr and Mrs Taylor own Eureka Corn Mill, formerly Sherfin Corn Mill, in Northfield Road, Rising Bridge.

Mrs Taylor, who is in her 60s, had been walking the dog at 9.30pm on Tuesday and was going back towards her home when she was approached from behind by a man wearing a balaclava she was bundled into her house through the garage by two men.

Mrs Taylor was bound by her hands and feet and Mr Taylor, who is in his late 60s, was confronted by the men as he was watching TV. He was also tied up.

The raiders, who were armed with six inch knives, threatened to physically harm the couple if they did not tell them where things were in the property.

The house was ransacked and the men escaped with cash which police said was a four figure sum. Mr and Mrs Taylor did not want to comment on the incident.

Mr Ronnan said: "I am appealing to anyone who was in Rising Bridge and saw two men acting suspiciously or saw a vehicle in the area which they do not recognise."