A FAMILY was terrorised at gunpoint by a gang who stormed into their Kidderminster home and stole their car.

Police are linking the raid on the Roden Avenue house, which happened at 9.35pm on Friday, to other recent robberies across Worcestershire in which cars were stolen.

In the latest raid, a man, woman and 10-year-old boy were confronted with a gun-wielding man in a balaclava and two accomplices armed with knives. They forced their way into their home and took a laptop computer and the keys to their Volkswagen Golf.

The car was recovered in Birmingham but police are still hunting the robbers, described as three black men. The man with the handgun is said to be 5 ft 11ins, of medium build, and was wearing a dark windcheater and trousers. One of the other men was 5ft 4ins, wearing a black fleece jacket with a bandana disguising his face. The third man was 5ft 8ins and wearing a black jacket. Both men carried knives.

Five minutes before the robbery, three black men in a Rover 25, registered Y559 CNV, were at the centre of an "unprovoked assault" in nearby Hurcott Road, according to Sgt Pete Trueman, of Kidderminster Police.

The silver car had been stolen at gunpoint in Cofton Hackett on Wednesday, September 12 and was later found abandoned in Roden Avenue.

A 17-year-old was walking with friends in Hurcott Road when he was punched twice in the mouth by one of the men who jumped out of the Rover, which had pulled up alongside them.

The Kidderminster youth suffered cuts and bruises to the face which required hospital treatment. His assailant is described as a black man in his early 20s, about 5ft 10ins tall.

The Roden Avenue raid is also being linked to a robbery in Pinewoods Avenue, Hagley, on Friday, August 24 in which a Peugeot 206 GTi, registered W824 AOH, was stolen and is still missing.

A police spokesman said: "Members of the public are advised not to approach persons believed responsible."

However anyone with information about any of the incidents should call Kidderminster Police on 01562 820888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.