A TERRIFIED nine-year-old boy hid under a table after masked thieves armed with a knife burst into his home while his parents slept upstairs.

The boy was playing on a computer in the lounge when the attackers struck.

They smashed the rear patio doors with a small rock, burst in and shouted: "Police, throw down your keys."

The boy's parents, who were asleep in bed, failed to respond.

The thieves saw the boy cowering under the table and shouted that they were going to harm him unless his parents cooperated.

His horrified father then came down the stairs and saw one of the men carrying a three-inch knife.

Both raiders fled empty-handed, dropping the knife as they went. No one was hurt.

The attack took place a house on Circular Road in Sedgley Park, Bury.

One raider was about 20, slim and 5ft 6. He was wearing a ski mask, black gloves and dark clothes. He had a Bury or Salford accent.

His accomplice had black shoes, back gloves, black tracksuit bottoms and a grey jacket with the hood up.

Police urge anyone who saw two men in the area around 9am on Sunday to call 0161 856 8161, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.