THREE people are recovering after a vicious attack at a house in Kent in the early hours of this morning.

Police officers are investigating the violent robbery in Hawksdown Road, Walmer, when a man and two women were tied up and assaulted by three men who were demanding keys to business properties owned by the family.

The three were hit with a baseball bat and they told police the intruders had pistol-type guns.

One attacker was white, aged in his 20s, 5ft 11in tall, of slim build, with fair hair and wearing a white hooded top, dark trousers and pink fingerless gloves.

Another was white, 6ft tall, of slim to medium build, aged in his mid to late 20s and wearing a dark hooded top and black tracksuit bottoms which were tucked into socks.

The third attacker was white, aged in his 20s, 6ft tall and of medium build.

DI Kenny Ingram said: "This was a very brutal attack on the family, who are recovering from their ordeal.

"This type of robbery is not a common occurrence. It is under serious investigation and we are appealing for any one who saw anything suspicious, for instance people or vehicles, in the vicinity of Hawksdown Road in Walmer during the early hours of Friday to contact us."

A police spokesman said the three victims were taken to hospital with "non life-threatening" injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01303 289180 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.