A masked gang attacked and pummelled an unsuspecting man inside his Bricket Wood home while demanding cash.

Four thugs broke into a shared flat on Old Watford Road at about 10.45pm on January 25, surprising the 41-year-old victim in his bedroom.

Three of the criminals punched, kicked, and hit the victim when he did not hand over money, while a fourth waited outside on the landing.

One of them was wearing a skeleton mask to obscure his face.

However, when the victim called out for help to his housemates, the offenders fled empty-handed in an unknown direction.

St Albans Local Crime Unit Det Con Jody Perrin said: “This was a particularly unusual incident where the burglars used violence against the victim in order to try and extract money from him.

“He suffered head and face injuries including a broken nose as a result.”

The offenders were wearing all black - jackets, jogging bottoms and trainers - with various gloves. Two of them were sporting orange and white gloves, a third had donned a latex type, and the fourth man was wearing ones in a black and red motorcycle style.

Anyone with information about the incident should call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, using crime reference F3/18/186.