A GANG of six youths broke into a house and threatened two people with a knife.

A man in his 60s and a woman in her 90s had been asleep at their home in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend, when the crooks broke in.

They threatened the man with a knife and a piece of wood and demanded cash and jewellery from him before locking him in a room.

They then rummaged through the man’s belongings and stole credit cards and a mobile phone.

The elderly woman also had the burglars march into her bedroom and threaten her verbally before going through her handbag to take cash and bank details.

The gang were aged between 14 and 20 years old and possibly included a girl.

Anyone with information in connection with this burglary is urged to contact detectives at Southend police station on 0300 333 4444.