POLICE are hunting a gang of five masked raiders armed with metal bars and a knife who subjected two households to a terrfying ordeal last night.

Police said they share the community's shock - and have vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

At around 8pm on Monday a resident returned to his home on Martins Lane, Wallasey, to discover the gang had forced entry and made an untidy search.

They then restrained him and threatened him with a knife before stealing cash.

A short time later at around 8.35pm a group of five men forced entry to an upstairs flat on Seabank Road, New Brighton.

The gang, who were brandishing metal bars, demanded money from a man and woman inside and struck the male, cutting his arm.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged with a minor injury.

The raiders made off, again with cash.

The wanted men were white, around 6ft, wearing black clothing and jeans with their faces covered.

Extensive inquiries are on-going into both incidents including house-to-house interviews and reviewing CCTV.

Officers are conducting forensic examinations at both properties.

Detective Inspector Paul Lamb said: "These were particularly nasty incidents which left both victims extremely shaken.

“While our inquiries are at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind as to the identity of the offenders for each incident.

"We are investigating the possibility they are linked.

"At this stage detectives believe both incidents are targeted.

"Thankfully incidents such as this are very rare - and we share the shock of the communities in Wallasey and New Brighton.

"People have every right to feel safe in their own home and I want to reassure the community we are doing everything we can to establish the full circumstances surrounding the burglaries and trace and arrest the people responsible.

"I would urge people in the area to consider if they saw anything last night at around 8pm to 9pm which in hindsight seems suspicious to contact us with any information.

"No matter how trivial you think that information is it could prove vital to the investigation."

Detectives urge anyone who has information to contact them on 0151 777 2260 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.