A dad has spoken of his family’s terror after three masked robbers broke into his home and tied up two of his young daughters.

Shazad Karamat, 35, said the men threatened him and his wife with kitchen knives after they broke into their home in Brantwood Crescent, Heaton, in the early hours of Sunday.

He said the robbers stole gold jewellery, about £300 from his jacket and a digital camera before making off.

Mr Karamat and his wife, Noreen Akhtar, were woken up at about 4am after the burglar alarm went off. They turned the alarm off and went back to bed.

But at about 7am the two eldest daughters, aged nine and 11, were woken by three men wearing balaclavas demanding to know where their father’s money and gold was.

Mr Karamat said the children’s hands, legs and mouths were tied up with clothes before the intruders broke through his bedroom door, where five-year-old Afshah Kosar was also sleeping. He said the intruders put a blanket over the child’s head while they threatened him and his wife.

He said: “They put a knife to my stomach and to my throat.

“They tied me and my wife up, put a knife to my throat and punched me in the face a couple of times.

“They hit my wife in the face with the handle of the knife, once in her shoulder and she’s got a cut on her wrist.”

The robbers left the house after a member of the family set the alarm off while they were searching.

The family have been sleeping downstairs since the attack and Mr Karamat’s brother has stayed over to ensure the house is secure.

He said: “We have been sleeping downstairs and having flashbacks.

“It was terrifying – it’s the first time it’s happened and we have been here for seven years.

“We are still in shock.

“They must have used a crowbar or something to get through the back door.”

He said Afshah and 11-year-old Afreen Tabassun went to school yesterday although nine-year-old Tanzeelah Kosar stayed at home.

He also warned others in the area to be alert as he had heard of similar incidents taking place.

Police are investigating similar offences and would like to speak to anyone who has any information about the incident.

One suspect was Asian, 25 to 30 years old, 5ft 7ins tall and medium build. He was wearing dark clothing with a dark hooded top.

The other two men were of a similar height, one of medium build while the other was described as slim. Both were wearing dark clothing and dark hooded tops.

Detective Inspector John Mountain, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, said: “This was a worrying incident and I am appealing for the public’s help in identifying the suspects.

“Such incidents are rare in our communities and anyone who has information or who may have been passing by the house at the time and seen information to contact Airedale and North Bradford CID on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”