POLICE have confirmed they are investigating the business background of a Chatteris car dealer, whose family were taken hostage in their home. It is one of many lines of inquiry, said a Cambridgeshire police spokesman. Although the initial inquiry name

POLICE have confirmed they are investigating the business background of a Chatteris car dealer, whose family were taken hostage in their home.

"It is one of many lines of inquiry," said a Cambridgeshire police spokesman.

Although the initial inquiry named the car dealer as Tony Kettleborough, he is also known in Chatteris as Tony Hill, where he runs a secondhand car dealership.

Father-of-two Mr Kettleborough has given a horrifying account of how an armed gang attacked and threatened his family in their home in Westfield Road, Manea.

Their ordeal began when the family, who only recently moved to Manea from West Norfolk, returned home at 5.45pm last Wednesday to find four men in balaclavas lying in wait.

They were held hostage for 20 minutes before the raiders fled with thousands of pounds in the Kettleboroughs' Ford Granada, which was found abandoned nearby in Toll Drive.

Mr Kettleborough, 50, who was bound and gagged, is recovering from serious facial injuries and cuts and bruising to his arms, hands and legs.

His elder daughter Sarah, 16, needed hospital treatment after being struck in the face with a pickaxe handle. Her sister Louise, 10, had a kitchen knife held to her throat and was told she would be kidnapped by the gang.

The girls' mother, Susan, 40, was tied up and could only look on in horror as her family were attacked. Their pet dog was struck across the back.

Mr Kettleborough said: "It is difficult to describe the shock and fear we have been feeling since this horrific attack. I can't believe what these men have done.

"Our home can be tidied up and our injuries will heal but it will take a long, long time for us to feel safe again."

One of the attackers is described as 6ft, dressed all in black, with tanned skin, and distinctive blue eyes. Another was wearing a beige-coloured head covering, tied at the top, with the word "Bench" in black lettering on one side. He was also believed to be wearing brown leather and material gloves.

The other two men are only described as wearing balaclavas.

n Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact Det Insp Matt Potts on 0845 456 4564 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.