THREE carjackers armed with a knife and a sawn-off shotgun broke into a Tyldesley couple's home while they were asleep in bed on Thursday.

One of the gang burst in to the bedroom at 3am and threatened to kill the 38-year-old man and his wife unless they handed over the keys to their two cars.

The man threw the keys to two other men who were standing outside on the stairs and after a lot of shouting between them, they made off in a black BMW X5 and a grey Audi 6 Quattro which were parked on the driveway.

The terrified couple, of Well Street, Tyldesley, alerted the police and told them that both cars -- together worth more than £60,000 when new -- were fitted with tracker devices.

The force helicopter was dispatched and picked up the signals from both cars which were being driven at speed around Salford.

The BMW was abandoned at 3.30am on Langley Road and the Audi was abandoned on Whitewater Drive shortly after.

The gang had gained access to the house by smashing the glass in one of the patio doors.

After they had fled, the couple also noticed that the men had stolen a plasma screen television from the property.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have heard or seen anything in the area at the time to call Leigh CID on 0161 856 7252 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.