A Shropshire man today spoke of his shock after masked gunmen forced their way into his family home before firing a shot in an attempted robbery.

Also see: Masked gunmen hurt pair

The father-of-two, his wife, daughter and her boyfriend, who don’t want to be named, were recovering today after four or five men wearing balaclavas burst into the home in Hilton, near Bridgnorth, at about 10.45pm on Monday.

The man, who was hit over the head by the gunmen as they demanded he hand over the keys to his BMW, said today: “What happened to us wasn’t very pleasant.

“We’d like to thank all of the neighbours for their help and the police – everybody was excellent.”

The detached property in Hilton remained sealed off today under police guard.

Neighbours said the couple’s 18-year-old daughter and her boyfriend fled the house to get help fearing for her parents’ lives.

The teenager’s boyfriend is understood to have injured his hand as he hit one of the burglars before they made their escape out of the back door as the men fired a shot, which hit the staircase and furniture.

Armed police surrounded the house and the force helicopter was scrambled but the gang had fled empty handed.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “They only wanted the car – we think it was to order.

“We wouldn’t let their daughter out of the house when she was here. Every minute of waiting for the police felt like a lifetime.”

His wife, who also did not want to be named, said: “They are a lovely family and the parents love their children.”

Detectives are continuing their investigations today.