THE hunt for a trio of masked men who hacked at a man during a targeted petrol station attack led police to raid a house in Bradford.

Detectives are searching for three masked men believed to have used a machete to seriously wound the 24-year-old man at Sainsbury's on Harrogate Road, Greengates, on Friday afternoon.

The victim remains in hospital with a serious injury to his hand and cuts to his head, back and legs. Police will not say which hospital he is being treated at.

The attackers are described as three Asian men wearing face coverings.

On Sunday afternoon at approximately 2pm police arrived in force at a home in Hendford Drive, Barkerend, according to an onlooker.

"There were two police vans and a big BMW estate car and officers went into the house with ladders and equipment as if they were going to carry out a search," the local resident said.

"And I think they may have taken an elderly woman from another nearby house over to the front door to help them get in when they arrived.

"I didn't see any armed police and the house wasn't cordoned off. But there were officers standing guard in front of it," she said.

A police spokesman confirmed the search of property was connected to the ongoing hunt for the gang of masked attackers.

"Inquires are continuing and we are in the process of trying to locate the suspects in relation to that attack," he said yesterday.

Detectives are now urging witnesses or anyone else with information to come forward, by calling Bradford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Officers were called to the scene at Sainsbury's petrol station just before 5pm on Friday and the area was sealed off by the time ward councillor Jeanette Sunderland arrived soon afterwards to do a shop.

"There were police everywhere and the whole petrol station was taped off," said Cllr Sunderland (LibDem, Thackley and Idle).

"It must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for anyone who witnessed it.

"I've had lots of people phoning me about about it and asking if it's connected with other violent incidents that have been taking place in Greengates recently.

"This was obviously a targeted attack by a gang, but there have been other incidents involving youths and in fact I am having a meeting with neighbourhood policing officers this week in order to discuss what many people think is an increasing problem," Cllr Sunderland said.