A TERRIFIED pensioner suffered a heart attack after a gun-toting gang raided her home.

The 78-year old fell ill after three masked men burst into her home in Halvard Avenue, Seedfield, and threatened the woman and her husband, aged 72, with a gun and a machete.

Police said the robbery had shocked the community and described it as “absolutely appalling, violent and utterly shameless”.

One raider pinned the man to the sofa before waving the machete above his head as the victim’s horrified wife looked on.

Meanwhile, a second robber pointed a handgun at the woman to prevent her from dialling 999.

The gang demanded to know where the couple kept their money.

The man was so scared that he and his wife would be shot or stabbed, he told the men were to find money.

The offenders grabbed about £800 in cash, ran out of the property and drove off in a car.

But the couple’s ordeal did not end there.

Shortly after the raiders left, the woman suffered a heart attack.

Paramedics were called to the house and she was taken to Fairfield Hospital for treatment and kept in for observation for five days.

The shocking raid took place at 8.10pm on Sunday, October 20, just as the couple had settled down to watch X Factor on television.

A scenes-of-crime team has carried out a detailed forensic examination of the property and detectives have questioned neighbours and businesses to see if anyone saw the gang arriving or leaving, or if there is any CCTV footage.

Police have urged Bury Times readers to come forward with any useful information.

Det Con Matt Marquis, of Bury CID, said: “What we are dealing with is an absolutely appalling, violent and utterly senseless attack on an elderly couple in the sanctity of their own home.

“The stress and trauma of their horrific ordeal may have triggered the woman’s heart attack.

“It would be impossible to put into words just how her husband is feeling right now, having seen his home invaded by masked thieves and his wife so traumatised she sustained a heart attack.

“Our thoughts are with him and the rest of his family and we hope his wife will make a good recovery.”

He added: “What we must do now is use the sense of outrage and shock that I have no doubt this robbery will provoke in the local community to find the thugs who committed this shocking crime.

“Make no mistake — these men are dangerous and have access to weapons so we need to find them now.

“If you have any information whatsoever then please come forward.

“It might be you saw a masked gang driving around in a car at about the time of the robbery, or perhaps you have overheard some gossip about who may have been involved.

“Please do the right thing and come forward. Your help could be crucial to finding these cowardly culprits and getting the justice this family deserve.”

The first offender is described as a white man wearing a yellow high-visibility jacket, dark trousers, a balaclava and gloves.

The second man with a machete described as a white man was wearing black clothing and balaclava. The third man had the gun.

Call police on 0161 856 8153 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.