BURGLARS have raided a large riverside house near York, sparking a massive police investigation.

Residents in Acaster Malbis were alerted to the drama when police with dogs descended on the Mill Lane area of the village.

Police have refused to confirm reports at Acaster Malbis that the occupants were tied up by a gang of masked men who fled with an unknown quantity of property.

But they have issued a statement calling on people to help them catch the raiders.

Detective Inspector David Hunt said: "It is believed four men entered a house in Mill Lane, Acaster Malbis, they threatened the occupants and escaped with some property the details of which are not known at this stage.

"The occupants were extremely shocked with this incident, but otherwise uninjured. It is believed that the offenders approached the property from the rear travelling down the riverbank and across the rear garden.

"It is believed they may have had a vehicle parked in the area of the Ship Inn pub. The only description of the intruders is they were wearing dark-coloured clothing and balaclavas.

"We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen one or more people acting suspiciously in the area of Mill Lane, the riverbank and the car park of the Ship Inn to come forward."

On neighbour who did not want to be named said police activity started at about 9.30pm last night.

She also said she had seen a dinghy with three men in it acting suspiciously near the burgled house earlier in the day.

The house backs on to the river and is guarded by electrically-operated gates at the front, and police have not ruled out that the burglars used a boat in the raid.

The neighbour said: "At about 9.30pm I saw all these flashlights and it looked a bit odd. Then you could see policemen and the dogs and they were all over the place.

"Earlier, I had seen a dinghy with three men in it and thought at first it was going to stop at the back of my garden, then it disappeared near the burgled house. The men in the dinghy had fishing rods, but they did look a bit odd."

She said her husband had been stopped three times by police as he walked the short distance to the Ship Inn.

Anybody with information on the Acaster raid is asked to contact York police on 01904 631321.

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