A TERRIFIED woman has told of the moment a burglar burst into her home, pointed a gun in her face and threatened to kill her.

The 61-year-old, who is too scared to be identified, was handcuffed, gagged and blindfolded after two men barged into her home and ransacked it.

The horrific ordeal started on a quiet June morning. She opened the door of her Sidcup home to one of the raiders, who asked her to sign for a parcel addressed to her husband.

The woman was suspicious because she was not expecting a delivery. When she discovered the parcel was in fact an empty box, she tried to slam the door in his face and reach for her panic button in the hallway.

But the man reacted quickly and shoved the struggling woman into the hallway before she could raise the alarm. He dragged her to the floor by her neck.

As she tried to call for help, he handcuffed her, stuck masking tape across her mouth and flashed his gun before blindfolding her.

The woman said afterwards: “He pulled a gun to my head and said, ‘Don’t make a noise or I will kill you’. Then he started swearing at me.

“He pushed my nose and my mouth together and I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die.” The pair flung a tablecloth over her and made her sit in the front room as they rifled through the drawers downstairs.

But her son’s 22-year-old girlfriend was hidden upstairs and managed to call him on her mobile phone.

He returned and disturbed the burglars, who made off through the back door empty-handed.

Police believe the pair, who arrived on the doorstep only 15 minutes after her son had left for work, had been waiting for the 25-year-old to leave.

His mother was left with bruising to her neck and arms and was treated in hospital for pains in the left side of her chest.

Police would not say whether the attack was targeted at the family or whether it was a random raid.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Luis Martinez said: “This was a nasty attack and we are anxious for anyone who saw anything around the High Street area on June 10, at 10.30am, to come forward so we can trace these men.” Call 020 8284 9146 with information.