TWO members of a burglary gang which stole more than £260,000 worth of goods from wealthy homeowners have had their sentences cut on appeal.

The gang targeted properties in affluent areas across Manchester and Cheshire between July 2015 and February last year.

Homes were broken into and ransacked before the thieves got away with high-value cars, watches, jewellery and electronic goods.

A number of victims described being left "traumatised" by the invasion of their homes, often in the dead of night.

Elliot Ethan Harrison, 19, of Captain Fold Road, Little Hulton, and Matthew Royle, 37, of the Links, Moston, both admitted conspiracy to burgle.

Harrison, who was arrested after being caught in a stolen car, also admitted two counts of taking a vehicle without consent and two of handling stolen goods.

The pair were locked up, along with four other raiders, at Manchester Crown Court in August last year.

Royle was jailed for four years and two months, and handed a driving ban of the same length, while Hanson was handed six years and four months in youth custody.

But their sentences have now been reduced by judges sitting at the Court of Appeal, in London, who ruled the original terms were too long.

Lord Justice Fulford, sitting with Mrs Justice O'Farrell and Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, cut Royle's jail term to two-and-a-half years and Harrison's to four years.

Royle's driving ban was also reduced to one year and three months.

The judge said that, while their offending was "clearly very serious", their original sentences were too high and didn't take enough account of their admissions of guilt.