Boy, 14, tied up in own home and threatened with machete by 'terrifying' burglars

A 14-year-old boy was tied up and threatened with a machete by burglars when he was home alone.

The teenager came downstairs to discover two burglars in his home in Melrose Street, Oldham on Tuesday afternoon.

After seeing the boy, one of the men ripped a phone from a wall and tied the youngster up with phone cable, before threatening him with a machete.

The burglars - who were "hell bent on stealing whatever they could" - then proceeded to take games consoles and phones from the home.

The boy has been left traumatised by the ordeal, police said.

One suspect, who spoke with a local accent, is described as mixed race around 30 years old.

The second man is described as white and in his 20s.

Officers believe the robbery could be linked to a similiar incident that occurred in nearby Hollinwood less than a week earlier.

An image released in the Hollinwood case has been reissued as detectives hunt the culprits.

"This was obviously an extremely traumatic incident for the young boy who was tied up and threatened in his own home, by two men armed with terrifying weapons and who were hell bent on stealing whatever they could," Detective Inspector Lewis Hughes said.

Police have urged anyone with information to call on 0161 856 9063, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.