A COUPLE who fought off knife-wielding burglars who broke into their home six months ago are offering a £5,000 reward to catch their attackers. The money is being offered by an anonymous donor who heard of the trauma experienced by the St Neots couple who

A COUPLE who fought off knife-wielding burglars who broke into their home six months ago are offering a £5,000 reward to catch their attackers.

The money is being offered by an anonymous donor who heard of the trauma experienced by the St Neots couple who are in their late 60s.

Richard and Ann Landy, who are both in their 60s, were attacked by two men as they sat watching television in their home in New Street on December 7 at about 7.50pm.

Despite a brave effort to defend themselves, and evict the intruders, the husband and wife were overpowered and beaten.

At the time Mrs Landy, 68, told The Hunts Post: "It was very scary. I was sitting in the lounge watching Secret Rivers on the television and reading The Hunts Post when I felt a rush of cold air and then the living room door flung open. Standing in the doorway was a man wearing a balaclava and holding a big kitchen knife. That image will stay with me forever."

One of the men shouted at Mrs Landy to get on the floor and demanded £100.

"I then shouted my husband's name and the knife man said 'shut up or I will kill you' and put a knife to my neck. If he had pushed any harder it would have gone into my skin."

Following the incident, Mr Landy, who was upstairs watching television when the men said: "I heard my wife call my name so I walked out of my bedroom and was confronted by a balaclava-clad man holding a knife and a crow bar."

The intruder had not been prepared for Mr Landy's 20 years of military training and he took the knife out of the intruder's hand.

The 69-year-old former solider was then hit over the head with the crow bar, but continued to tackle the intruder down the stairs before the second man jabbed a knife at Mr Landy.

Mrs Landy also came to the aid of her husband, hitting the men with a garden fork. The intruders eventually left empty handed.

Mrs Landy, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, took her husband to Hinchingbrooke Hospital where he had five stitches to his head.

"I never expected anything like this to happen in St Neots and I shouldn't feel scared and be terrorised in my own home," she told The Hunts Post in December.

Six months on, Mrs Landy says the experience still haunts her.

"My leg is still bruised and swollen on the knee cap. This was terrifying for both of us and I just want these evil people caught."

Detective Sergeant Adi Bowman, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a terrifying experience for these people to go through and to know the offenders have received justice would help them greatly to get over their ordeal."

The reward will be given to anyone who provides the police with information that leads to the successful conviction of those responsible.

INFORMATION: Contact Deg Sgt Bowman on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.