AN ELDERLY couple say they are living in terror after a knife-wielding robber burst into their home and threatened them.

Stanley Livingstone, aged 87, and his wife Roma, aged 75, of Walkden, were watching television at 9pm on Tuesday when they heard a loud bang.

The couple went into their hallway, where they saw the masked thug, who had kicked down their door, in the porch He was carrying a 12-inch curved knife and demanded money from the pensioners.

Great-grandfather Mr Livingstone told the man to get out of the house and tried to push him out of the door, while his wife went to get her handbag.

Mrs Livingstone said: “I was terrified.

The man was waving a knife under our noses and threatened us. He kept telling us to give him some money.

“Stanley was getting angry and tried to push him out of the house. He could have been stabbed.

“I thought if I gave the man some money, he would leave.

“I gave him £50 from my purse, but he said that wasn’t enough.

“He snatched my handbag from my hands, picked up a telephone and ran away.”

The brown bag contained Mrs Livingstone’s purse, credit cards and house keys.

Mrs Livingstone, a retired teacher, said: “It will take me a while to feel completely safe in my home again.”

Det Sgt Julie Connor, of Salford CID, said: “No-one should be threatened in the sanctity of their own home and only someone who has been through such a traumatic ordeal will know what they are going through.

“That is why it is so important that we track this man down, arrest him and put him behind bars for a long time. We need to give this couple at least some semblance of satisfaction at seeing him sent down.”

The man is described as being in his 20s and wearing all brown clothing and gloves. He was also wearing a hat with a piece of material hanging down over his face, with two eyeholes cut out.

Anyone with information is asked to call Salford CID on 0161 856 3553 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.