“She shouts ‘get away’ and could no longer see the face’.”

Magistrates were told that just as the victim thought that the male had gone he reappeared, again banging hard on the door.

Ms Lawford said that fearing for the safety of herself and her daughter she fled back upstairs.

She said: “In a panic she goes upstairs to her daughter’s bedroom, she finds her cowered under the bed covers.

“She told her ‘we need to get out of the house’ and as they left through the front door they could still hear them trying to get in.”

Ms Lawford said that neighbours had witnessed the men trying to break in and called police.

When officers arrived the victim saw that the bottom panel of the door had been forced through to gain entry into the house.

She found her mobile phone had been taken and there was a black-handled kitchen knife on the floor that didn’t belong to her.

Police later arrested Patten and Hirst.

A third man is currently on police bail pending further inquiries.

The two men will first appear before the crown court on February 1. They were remanded in custody until then.