DETECTIVES are searching for three men who forced their way into a house and assaulted a man before stealing money.

North Yorkshire Police were called to the house in Firthland Road, Pickering, at about 8.40pm yesterday, after three men in balaclavas followed the victim into his home, before punching him, threatening his wife, and making off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police said the men ran off along Goslip Gate, and extensive searches took place with support from the National Police Air Service, but nobody has yet been arrested in connection with the aggravated burglary.

The man and his wife, who are both aged in their 50s, were taken to Scarborough District Hospital for check ups and were later released. The man suffered minor facial injuries and his wife was physically uninjured, but police said both were "extremely distressed and shaken up" by the burglary.

Detective Sergeant Ken Proctor of Scarborough CID, said police wanted to speak to anyone who was in the Eastgate, Hungate, Southgate or Firthland Road area on Monday evening and saw the three men, who wore dark clothing, balaclavas and were of medium build.

Anyone with any information should phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.