A gang of thugs armed with hammers and a crowbar smashed their way into a family home before threatening an 11-year-old boy and spraying liquid in the face of a pensioner.

The ordeal for the family began at around 6pm on March 5 when four men arrived at their gated house in Cookham Dene Close in Chislehurst.

After trying the front door and getting no answer, one of the men smashed the rear patio door with a crowbar and all four of them burst into the property.

During the burglary, an 11-year-old boy was dragged through the house and an 81-year-old man was squirted in the face with liquid.

The family was repeatedly threatened with violence if they did not tell the burglars where their valuables were kept.

While one of the four men threatened the family, the other three searched the house.

One of the men dragged a teenage girl upstairs and demanded she tell him where her jewellery was.

Police were called about half an hour later when one of the victims managed to alert a family member they were being attacked.

The men then fled after filling the teenage girl’s schoolbag with jewellery.

The suspects are described as all white men in their 20s of stocky builds.

They all spoke with Irish accents and wore matching Converse-style trainers with puffer jackets and baseball caps.

They drove away in a silver coloured Mercedes.

Police investigating believe the men are responsible for several burglaries of a similar nature in the area, in which houses were broken into via the back door when no one answered the doorbell.

Detective Constable Ben Briselden said: “This was a terrifying burglary where a family were at home enjoying their evening and were threatened, and attacked, by four men who then stole their most valued possessions, which were of great sentimental value.

"We would urge anyone with information about this burglary to get in touch as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should call Bromley burglary squad on 07795 334919 on or 101, or tweet @Metcc. To call anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have also released CCTV footage of a break-in at a house in Forest Ridge, Keston on February 21, during which a safe containing watches and jewellery was taken.