A couple who were beaten and threatened with a knife during a terrifying a burglary at their home in Rayne have appeared on Crimewatch.

John and Mary Cunningham spoke about the incident alongside detectives to make a fresh appeal for information.

Three men called at their house in Queenborough Lane on February 20 between 5.40pm and 6.15pm and forced their way inside when they answered the door.

The sledgehammer-wielding thugs threatened the couple with a knife and Mr Cunningham needed hospital treatment after being kneed in the back.

During the 40-minute ordeal the raiders demanded to know where the non-existant safe was, before stealing about £1,000 in cash.

They left in a dark coloured saloon car, believed to be a Volkswagen.

The men are believed to be Eastern European and were all no more than 5ft 8in tall.

Two of the men were wearing thick black workmen's trousers and the third was wearing similar legwear with a white stripe down the side.

Two of the men were wearing black 'bomber style' workmen's jackets and the third had a dark green to khaki coloured jacket with a logo on it.

Mrs Cunningham told the Times: “You get over things to a certain point but I would like to put this to bed finally knowing that somebody’s been bought to justice.

“We felt it was a very serious incident and I think it was unusual because of the time of day it happened.

“They haven’t had much in the way of leads and they are really hoping this will generate some information.”

Mrs Cunningham said TV crews filmed a reconstruction at her house just five weeks after the incident, based on detailed statements she and her husband gave to police.

She said: “It was still very fresh in our memories, we didn’t watch the reconstruction thankfully.”

DC Mike Pannell, of Braintree CID, said: "We received quite a number of calls last night and we have been provided with new information which we will now be following up."

Anyone with information can call 01376 556252.

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

To watch the appeal visit the Essex Police website.