A 60-YEAR-OLD man was battered over the head with a shovel and tied up during a terrifying robbery at his Leigh home.

Three men burst into a house in West Bridgewater Street, Leigh, at about 7.30pm on March 6.

They pushed the man to the floor and demanded he go upstairs for them to fetch valuables.

As the terrified man walked up the stairs, he was punched and hit on the head with a shovel before the men stole jewellery and fled.

The three men, who were white, medium build, in their mid-20s to early 30s, tied the man up before leaving.

They were wearing dark clothes and balaclavas and spoke with local accents.

Det Con Mark Harrison said: “This was a terrifying ordeal and the victim was not only punched and hit with a shovel but was tied up in his own home.

“He was lucky that his injuries were not far worse and he is still feeling the mental scars of what happened to this day.

“These men are violent offenders but we are determined to get them off the street.

“If anyone saw these men running away from the area at the time of the robbery, I would ask you to phone police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information can phone police on 0161 8567225 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.