TWO people subjected to a violent attack knew their assailants, police have revealed.

And today detectives were hunting two men aged 25 and 30 in connection with the robbery at a council home in Pennine Road, Bacup.

A 22-year-old woman and her brother, aged 30, were badly beaten by the raiders, who were armed with a sawn-off shotgun and wooden baton.

The men also threatened a one-month-old baby before escaping in a white Ford Sierra 4x4 with cash and goods valued at £2,000.

A police spokesman said that the victims knew their attackers and said the incident could be "drugs related."

He added: "We are looking for two men but we are not releasing their names."

The Sierra was spotted by a patrol car after the incident at 10am yesterday morning and was later recovered in Rochdale, where the men are known to live.

CID officers in Bacup and Rochdale were today liaising in the hunt.

Detective Inspector John Fryer said: "The woman is still very shaken and the man has minor back injuries.

"The shotgun was not discharged in the attack."

The gunman spoke with a Manchester accent and was wearing jeans, a thigh-length ski jacket, black leather gloves and a grey Kickers' hat.

He was white, 5ft 8in tall, slim, with thin facial features and a dull grey complexion.

The man carrying the baton was aged about 30 and had a round face and rough complexion with bad teeth.

He wore a grey baggy tracksuit, a thick grey padded jacket and black hat.

Anyone with information is asked to ring police at Bacup on 01706 873350.

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