Burglars who forced their way into a home after pretending to be police officers struck a mother with a screwdriver before locking her family in a garage.

The family, including a 66-year-old woman, her 67-year-old husband and their 32-year-old daughter, were at home in Doeshill Drive, Wickford, when three men knocked on the door.

They claimed to be police officers and said they were looking for someone who had jumped over the fence.

But they then forced their way inside and demanded money.

An unknown amount of cash and jewellery were stolen and the family were locked in their garage.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Fortunately they managed to alert police.

"The suspects had also struck the older woman in the head with a screwdriver.

"She has received medical treatment. "

Detective Inspector Stewart Eastbrook added: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the family and we are doing all we can to bring the offenders to justice.

“We have been carrying out house to house enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage, and are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw three men acting suspiciously.

“We’d also like to speak to anyone with dash cam or CCTV or doorbell footage that could help with our investigation.”

The raid took place at around 3pm on Monday, March 30.

The suspects were described as white, aged in their late 20s and spoke with Eastern European accents.

One wore a grey zip-up top, black jogging bottoms with a white stripe and black gloves.

Another wore a dark hooded coat, light grey jogging bottoms and a black cap.

The third wore a grey top, light grey trousers, a black cap.

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Basildon CID on 101 quoting reference 42/48299/20.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.