MASKED raiders smashed their way into a home in the middle of the night while a family lay sleeping.

Five men, armed with a sledgehammer, broke into a house in Bournebridge Lane in Stapleford Abbotts at 4:35am on Tuesday, March 28.

The family inside woke up and escaped while the men ransacked the house. They stole a women’s stainless steel Rolex watch, and a four figure sum of money.

One of the men was wearing a red mask, while another was wearing a black mask with a white skull on.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.