AN ELDERLY couple told last night of the moment when a gang of violent armed robbers burst into their home and stole £55,000 worth of property.

Retired Abdul and Jamila Rashid were held captive by the masked gang for almost half an hour and feared they would not live through the ordeal.

The terrified pair were told by knife-wielding gang members that they would be killed if they did not hand over expensive jewellery.

Now Mr Rashid’s family are fearful for his health following the traumatic raid — he has already had two heart bypass operations and a stroke.

Mrs Rashid said: "Oh my God, I was scared. We couldn't say anything or do anything because we thought they would kill us.

"We've lived in Bolton for 40 years and we've never known anything like this.”

The couple were in the kitchen of their Ringley home when they heard a loud banging noise at the front door.

Mr Rashid, aged 68, stepped into the hallway to investigate, but he was forced back into the kitchen as five armed attackers forced the front door open and stormed into the house.

The men all wore balaclavas, and two were carrying eight-inch kitchen knives in both hands.

The intruders ordered the terrified couple not to move and threatened to kill them if they did not comply.

Two of the men held Mr and Mrs Rashid prisoner in the kitchen while the other three spent 25 minutes ransacking the house and stealing everything of value.

One of the captors held a knife to Mrs Rashid's throat and ordered her to remove her jewellery, while the other forced her husband to take off his watch.

When they finished clearing out the house, the raiders took the keys to the couple's Mercedes van and fled at high speed.

They slashed the tyres of Mr and Mrs Rashid's other car and took every telephone in the house, forcing the couple to run next door to call the police.

The incident took place at about 7.45pm on Wednesday at their home in Tanfield Drive.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5751 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.