A HOMEOWNER fought off a masked gang who tried to smash their way into his house early on Friday.

The 56-year-old man was threatened with a knife by four men after he heard them forcing his front door open early this morning.

As the men ordered him to hand over keys to two cars after telling him they had a knife, he held the door shut with a dining room chair while his wife frantically alerted police.

The gang eventually sped off empty handed in a getaway car. The door was badly damaged.

The men, who were all wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, struck at the bungalow in Hill Crest, Over Hulton, at 1.25am while the man, his wife and their 11-year-old son were asleep upstairs.

After hearing them break through a door, the man found them standing in the porch and confronted them.

It is thought the gang were attempting to steal an S-registered Audi A4 and an 04-registered Honda Accord.

After they were unable to get access to the house they escaped in a five-door Nissan Primera.

The victim described the men as between 18 and 30 years old.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bolton CID on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on free phone 0800 555111.