A family have been left traumatised after four men broke into their home during the night and attacked one of the family members before making off with money and valuables.

At around 4am this morning, the family, a 55 year old man, 56 year old woman and their 26 year old son, were woken up by the sound of smashing glass at their home, Castlehill Farm in East Kilbride.

The all headed downstairs where they were met by four men in balaclavas who threatened them and demanded money and valuables.

One of the men was armed with a machete and struck the 55 year old man on the leg.

The suspects then held the family in the upstairs bedroom while they turned the Kittochside property upside down before making off with a sum of cash, jewellery and car keys.

While some met a fifth man outside in a black Nissan Qashquai, the family's black Range Rover was stolen and damaged by the other men as they fled the scene in it.

The suspects drove off along Carmunnock bypass and then towards Croftfoot Road and Blairbeth Road, before abandoning the Range Rover in the Mount Vernon area.

One of the men is described as being in his early 20s with a local accent and was wearing a grey hoodie with the hood with his face covered.

The rest of the men are described as having local accents and wearing dark clothing with scarves/balaclavas covering their faces.

Detective Sergeant Alan MacDonald from Cambuslang CID said: “This group of despicable individuals completely terrorised this family and made threats of extreme violence, which made them genuinely fear for their lives throughout the ordeal.

“They have been left absolutely traumatised and it is vital that we trace the criminals responsible for this abhorrent incident.

“The house is in an isolated location, near to the Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area in the early hours of this morning and may have noticed a black Nissan Qashqai to please get in touch.

“I would also ask anyone who saw a black Nissan Qashqai or black Range Rover driving along the route described above following the incident to come forward.

"Any motorists with dashcams who were driving in the area around 4.30am are urged to contact police as they may have captured footage of the suspects making off from the scene."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cambuslang CID via 101, quoting incident number 0782 of Saturday 14 April 2018.

Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be called on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.