A Wanstead woman has spoken of a terrifying attack on her family by a gang who broke into her house in the middle of the night.

Maria Shepherd of The Avenue, Wanstead, has told how the men stormed into her house as she and her family slept.

Mrs Shepherd was with her husband and daughter when she heard the sound of her front door being kicked in. They ran out to find a group of six men in her hallway.

She said: "We were sleeping downstairs because we are decorating upstairs. They got in through the front door and one of them asked for our car keys and another grabbed my husband's van keys."

Her husband Richard said: "It seemed to go on for a long time but I suppose it was only minutes really.

"They shouted out 'We want your keys' and Maria said 'What keys?.

"I was shouting at them to get out and my daughter ran back into the bedroom and called the police."

Mrs Shepherd said: "One of them had something glinting in his hand and I thought it could be a gun."

With the police on their way the gang made their getaway leaving the family to pick up the pieces.

Mrs Shepherd said: "It's not what they do to your stuff, it's the damage they do to you."

The attack, on Tuesday May 6, was the first experience of its kind for the couple whose 19-year-old daughter Lauren was staying with them.

Mr Shepherd said: "It frightened her to death. It's not a nice thing and now she stays round her boyfriend's a lot more.

"I didn't feel threatened as such because you have so much adrenaline going that you don't think about the danger.

"It's afterwards that you think about what could have happened.

"You always think you're safe in your own home but now we have had the whole house alarmed."

Police believe the attack could be linked with a number of other incidents in the area.

Last week the Guardian reported the case of a South Woodford pensioner who fought off an attack by a gang of six hooded robbers in the early hours of May 16.

All six attackers were described as black and were wearing dark clothes with hoods.

Two days earlier, on May 14, a man was woken at his home Brackley Square, Woodford Green, as a gang attempted to break in by smashing their way through his front door.

Officers are looking for witnesses who may have seen the gang. Anyone with information should call the Ilford crime desk on 8345 2745.

May 30, 2003 12:30