Two burglars carrying silver hand guns were chased off by their victims.

The men had covered faces and hooded tops and broke the front door down on Saturday in Benfleet Close in Sutton just after 11pm.

Residents heard a loud noise as the front door was forced open.

Armed men demanded to know where the family had a safe and demanded money.

But their intended victims fought back and forced them out of the house.

They fled right down Benhill Road.

Jason Grima, 44, who lives opposite the property, said: “We heard a woman screaming outside.

“A man then came outside after all the commotion, and told someone driving a silver Toyota that two black men had broken into his house.

“The Toyota pulled up shortly after all the noise when everything seemed to be over.

“The man told two people inside - ‘my yard has been broken into.’

Mr Grima, a father-of-two who works as a supervisor at a bus depot, continued: “It is a great shock, because it is really quiet around here, nothing ever happens.”

A Sutton police CCTV van was patrolling the cul-de-sac this morning, and people living in the area were told to report anything suspicious.

Mr Grima’s daughter-in-law Angela said: “I have felt less safe since what happened on Saturday.

“I am always a little bit worried about these sorts of things, but now I am even more anxious.”

Armed police were called to the house but could not find the gunmen.

Police say the victims described the gunmen as 'appearing to be black'.

No-one was seriously injured. 

Detective Sergeant Julian Phillips, who is leading the investigation for Sutton Borough police, said: "We are appealing for anyone who might have seen the incident or know who may be involved.

"Anybody with any information about what happened should make contact either to police, or to contact Crimestoppers.

"Somebody will know who the suspects are or will have seen the incident and I would urge you to get in touch."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sutton police station on 020 8649 0638, or via 101, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.