A MAN has described the moment a gang of men armed with baseball bats forced their way into a Radcliffe home threatening 'to kill him'.

The 56-year-old man, who prefers to remain anonymous, tried to hold off the three offenders before they forced their way into the property - the home of his friend, who is elderly man and has disabilities.

The elderly man was badly beaten and remains in hospital with serious injuries.

Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of an aggravated burglary on Gatefield Close shortly before 8.40pm on Saturday, August 5.

As the man, a neighbour of the 75-year-old, went to answer the front door, he was confronted by the three men armed with baseball bats and wearing balaclavas.

He said: "As I answered the door I immediately tried to slam it shut but one of them trapped it open with a baseball bat.

"After that they forced their way in by pushing the door open as I was helpless to stop them.

"Straight after I shouted as loud as I could, hoping that someone nearby would hear, but they closed the door after."

The man describes how he was then bulldozed onto the ground but tried to remain as calm as possible and help his neighbour.

"Once they knocked me to the ground I was defenceless and there was nothing I could do so I just tried to stay switched on and do my very best to help my friend."

After suffering severe bruising to his arms and a broken collarbone, the man then watched as the gang moved onto the elderly man, shouting at him, 'where is the money?' before one of the offenders hit him over the head with his bat, knocking him unconscious.

The man added: "They knocked him out cold and kept saying that they were going to kill me if I didn't cooperate."

It is thought that soon after the gang panicked and made their escape through the patio doors, which they smashed with the baseball bats.

The man said: "The whole thing lasted around 15 minutes I think and I am just glad that it didn't end up much worse."

Police have appealed for help as they continue their investigations.

One of the offenders has been described as white, of medium height and wearing a white t-shirt.

The offenders then fled the scene in a light-coloured Peugeot 206, believed to be silver or pale blue.

The car was believed to have been driven along Bolton Road in Radcliffe as well as Stopes Road, Church Street and Lever Street in Little Lever.

This is believed to have happened at around 8.45pm on Saturday, August 5.

Detective Sergeant Ian Partington, from Bury CID, said: “This was a callous attack on an innocent elderly man that was completely motivated by greed.

“We are treating this as an isolated incident and officers will continue to patrol the area. Please approach them with any concerns you may have and they will try to assist in any way they can.

“We are specifically asking businesses in the area of Stopes Road, Lever Street and Church Street in Little Lever to please review their CCTV footage, as they may have captured something that could help us.

“I would ask that anybody who thinks they may know something that can assist with our investigation to please contact police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 2115 of 5 August 2017, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.