A GUNMAN left a family terrified as he barged into a Bellshill home in a daylight attack as two children slept upstairs.

The incident happened on Garfield Avenue at 9.30pm on Friday.

A 60-year-old man and a woman, 58, were sitting in their home when they heard a knock at the door.

The woman answered the door to a man who was dressed in black and wearing a balaclava. He then proceeded to brandish the firearm at the family before barging inside.

A struggle then broke out before the couple's 29-year-old daughter and her 30-year-old partner, who were upstairs with their two young children, came down to help.

The gunman then made off along Garfield Avenue.

No one was injured in the incident.

Detective Sergeant Lorraine Wilson from Wishaw CID said: "This man barged into a home where two young children were asleep upstairs and threatened the occupants with a firearm.

"Thankfully nobody was injured but it is absolutely vital that we trace this reckless individual and extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

"At this time we have no information to suggest why this home was targeted, and the possibility of mistaken identity is a line of enquiry.

"It would still have been daylight at the time of the incident and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and may have noticed a man dressed in black acting suspiciously to please get in touch. 

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Wishaw CID via 101, quoting incident number 4827 of Friday 25 May 2018. Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence."