Skipton property developers Brian and Linda Verity have told of their terrifying ordeal at the hands of masked men, who threatened them at gunpoint, tied them up and robbed them of cash and jewellery.

The couple, who live at Skibeden and own Skipton Properties, are now offering a £50,000 reward for any information that leads to the conviction of the four armed robbers.

"I will willingly pay the money," said 53-year-old Mr Verity. "I just want the robbers caught and hopefully the prosecution system will put them away for 20 years. That is what they deserve.

"They are animals and cowards and they need locking up."

He added that he had empathy with farmer Tony Martin who shot dead a burglar at his home. "When it happens to you, you don't think rationally - you do irrational things. You just want to make the situation better."

His 50-year-old wife likened their ordeal to a death in the family. "You learn to live with the trauma but the experience never goes away. I will never forget," she declared.

Their ordeal started after they retired to bed at about 10.30 last Thursday night. Their 19-year-old daughter, Caroline, was watching television in a nearby bedroom.

Mrs Verity explained: "The next thing I heard was the bedroom door opening, the light being switched on and two masked men standing there. It was only about 10.45pm."

The robbers were brandishing a kitchen knife and a shotgun. Two other balaclava-clad raiders burst into Caroline's room.

All three family members had their hands tied together as the robbers demanded to know where the safes were.

Mr Verity was dragged downstairs and was struck over the head as he struggled with the combination of one of the safes.

"I hadn't got my glasses so I couldn't see the buttons. I tried twice and the robber hit me. I told him I couldn't see and gave him the combination."

The robber then grabbed cash and jewellery from the safe. "It didn't satisfy him and he wanted to know where the other safe was," said Mr Verity.

He watched helplessly as the robber cocked the loaded gun and pointed it at him.

"It went through my mind that there was a possibility that he might use it but I knew I had to try to stay calm," he explained.

Meanwhile his wife and daughter were being held upstairs as the other robbers rifled through drawers and wardrobes.

"I was just lying on the bed. It was terrifying," said Mrs Verity. "My heart was beating so fast and so loudly that it was like a drum beat. It was horrendous.

"I kept asking them if my daughter was okay, and they said she was. I was literally shaking and trembling from head to toe."

She was eventually taken downstairs to open the second safe.

"I had to pass my daughter's room but I couldn't see anything. I had to go past Brian in the hallway - there was a gun pointing at his face. The robbers had also got a knife.

"They were very agitated and volatile and I felt that if I said or did anything wrong they would flip."

With her hands shaking so much, it took four attempts to open the safe, which the robbers then cleaned out.

Their haul included Mrs Verity's engagement and wedding rings and a watch purchased on the couple's honeymoon in Singapore 23 years ago.

Eventually the family was herded into the cellar. There Mr Verity had his ankles tied with plastic cables while Mrs Verity and Caroline were tied together.

The robbers locked the door and fled. Mr Verity had secretly picked up a set of keys from the hallway and was able to raise the alarm once he had broken free of his restraints. By then it was about 11.35pm.

"The police were here in double quick time. They have been magnificent, very supportive and very sensitive," said Mr Verity.

Officers have recovered the knife and gun following a search of the house and grounds.

Det Insp Mick Moore said the robbers had subjected the family to a "cowardly, violent and horrifying assault".

He added: "The arrest of these men is of very high priority. They are dangerous, they are callous and they need taking out of circulation as quickly as possible."

Already appeals for information have brought a response and possible leads are being followed up very closely.

One of the men is described as big and was referred to as George by the others. Another had an olive complexion with a foreign, possibly European accent, and a third was referred to as Paul.

Anyone with information about this raid should call Skipton CID on 01423 539753 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.