Police have appealed for witnesses after burglars raided an elderly couple's home, punched a man in the face and gagged his wife.

Three men broke into the house, in Shirley Park Road, Ashburton, through a kitchen window and stole Asian gold worth several thousand pounds, as well as cash and mobile phones. 

Upon entry they attacked the husband and covered his wife's mouth with cloth to stop her screaming out, then searched the house.

The raid at 9pm on Thursday, January 22, left the couple - both in their late 70s - shaken.

Detective Emma Crowley, of Croydon police's burglary squad, said: "This has understandably left the victims extremely shaken up and we’re determined to try and identify who is responsible. 

"I’d urge anyone who might have seen or heard anything unusual or suspicious in the area to get in touch with us, however insignificant you think the information may be - it could help us to solve this case."

Two of the burglars were white and the third mixed-race.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.