Police are hunting three masked thieves who broke into a family’s house in Prestwich and threatened the occupants, including an 11-year-old boy, with knives.

At around 7.10pm on Saturday, the victims were in their house in Heywood Road, when three men wearing balaclavas and armed with knives burst in via the back door.

They threatened to stab the occupants, two women aged 33 and 40 and a man aged 19, if they did not follow instructions.

They even threatened an 11-year-old boy with a knife, as one of the offenders forced all of the occupants into a back bedroom while the others tore the house apart looking for valuables.

Having stolen one of the victim’s keys, all three men then drove off in her Seat Leon, which had a registration number of MT15 XVV.

The first offender is described as Asian, around 5ft 7in to 5ft 9in tall, with a stocky build and spoke with a Salford accent. He was wearing a navy tracksuit and a scarf over his face.

The second offender is described as white, around 6ft tall and also spoke with a Salford accent. He was wearing a black North Face jacket and had his face covered.

The third offender is white, around 5ft 11in tall, spoke with a Salford accent and also had his face covered.

Detective Inspector Charlotte Cadden said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for all of the victims, but particularly the little boy, who has been left utterly traumatised by the incident.

“We have put extra patrols in place in an attempt to reassurance the community, and we are obviously looking for the public’s help to trace the stolen vehicle.

“The car is still outstanding, so if you see a white Seat Leon with the registration number MT15 XVV, please call police immediately.

“Similarly, if you were in the area at the time of the incident and saw anything suspicious, please call police as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.