Police were hunting for an armed gang who burst into the home of a terrified Clacton couple and their six young children and demanded cash.

The three men, armed with a silver handgun, knife and a small club, threatened the man and woman - who is five months pregnant - but were forced to flee empty-handed.

The couple managed to convince them that there was nothing for them to steal.

Their children, aged between seven months and ten years, were at home when the raid took place.

Det Sgt Del Smith, of Clacton police, said the man, who is in his early 30s, and woman in her late 20s, were shaken up by the incident at 12.35am on Saturday but were otherwise unhurt.

"It is a very nasty thing to happen to anyone - let alone a woman who is five months pregnant and with six small children in the house," he said.

"At this stage we have no idea why this house was singled out by the gang and it did not seem to stand out from any other in the road."

It is believed that two of the raiders may have been involved in a separate incident on Friday night when attempts were made to wave down a car on the A12 and A120.

Det Sgt Smith said the raid in Clacton started with a knock at the door. When it was answered the men burst into the house.

It is believed that they left on foot as no getaway vehicle was seen.

Det Sgt Smith added: "We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Sillett Close at the time and may have seen anything suspicious, or anything that can help us catch these men."

The first man was skinny, 5ft 7-8ins tall, about 25, with ginger to blond hair and a pale complexion. He had a silver handgun.

The second was also skinny, about the same height and age, and had curly black shoulder-length hair, a thin face and large nose. He wore a black round-neck T-shirt with a white stripe at the neck, and carried a knife.

The final member of the gang wore a blue and black balaclava. He was 5ft 5ins, of medium build, and carried a small club.

In the other incident on Friday two men in a blue P-registration Ford Fiesta tried to wave down the frightened occupants of a car travelling from London on the A12 and then the A120 near Harwich.

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