MASKED burglars broke into a house and demanded money from the occupant at knifepoint.

Ground worker Carl Jenner was in bed asleep when the three men kicked open his front door in Charles Road, Somerford, at 6.20am.

When he and a friend who was staying over went down to confront them, one began threatening them with a six inch serrated blade while the other two searched the property.

Before leaving empty-handed they threw a paving slab and garden fork at Mr Jenner, 45, who sustained a graze to his arm and bruised ribs.

"He said he was going to kill me, he said 'do you want to die'," said Mr Jenner.

"Then another one said he was going to throw a paving slab through my window, so I went out to tackle them and it was thrown at me, and then the garden fork smashed into my chest.

"I'm an ex-boxer and I ride superbikes so I'm used to knocks and scratches. But it was a shock at six in the morning."

Mr Jenner said he had "a lot of reptiles" in his front room and he thought this might have scared the would-be thieves out of the house.

"I think they must have had the wrong door as they said I owed someone money, I don't owe anyone money," he added.

"It sounded like it had something to do with drugs.

"I have lived here for four-and-a-half years, I fell in love with the area when I first saw it, but it is definitely getting rougher. I was burgled earlier in the year while I was in the house."

He said he was grateful the raiders had not attacked his neighbours, several of whom are elderly.

All three offenders were described as being aged in their mid-twenties with northern accents, with their faces partially concealed.

One offender was described as five feet ten inches tall and of skinny build, wearing a black coat.

The second offender was described as five feet four inches tall, of stocky build, wearing a grey hooded top; the third as five feet four inches tall, of stocky build, wearing a black hooded top.

Detective Constable James Lees, of Bournemouth CID, said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the two male occupants who woke to find three men in their home."

No arrests have been made.

ContactDorset Police in confidence with information on 101 quoting incident number 15:34. Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.