A HUSBAND, whose family has been devastated by a vicious knifepoint robbery in their home, is offering a £1,000 reward to catch the suspects.

Bus driver Zamir Shah fears the armed raiders, who threatened to slash the throat of his terrified 13-year-old son, could carry out other robberies and could cause serious harm to another victim.

He is offering money from his savings for information that leads to their conviction.

Mr Shah's wife, Naheed, 42, and their sons, aged 16 and 13, were at home, in Upper Rushton Road, Bradford Moor, when two masked men walked in brandishing knives. They systematically searched the property.

The younger son had a knife held to his throat and told he would be killed if he refused to reveal where valuables were kept. His mother was kicked and then hit over the head with a stolen iPad as the raiders fled with cash, jewellery and gadgets valued at between £6,000 and £7,000.

Mr Shah, 42, said his wife and children were still badly affected, ten months after the armed robbery, which happened at about 2pm, on Saturday, June 21, last year.

He said: "My 13-year-old son still can't go outside to play football, because he is frightened. He runs to the door to make sure it is locked and checks the windows. He keeps staring out of the windows because he is afraid they will come back, and he won't go outside until I get back from work.

"My elder son is going through the same thing, but he manages to hide it. My wife is stressed out and her blood pressure is still high. She is depressed and worries when I am not at home.

"I have to watch all this in my house and live with it. I get tears in my eyes when I think that people with knives could just walk into my house and do this to my family and I could not do anything about it. I have to see my children suffer every day."

Mr Shah said his wife thought she had recognised one of the men in the street days later and he was convinced they were local.

"I had only just left for work when it happened. They must have been watching. I am sure people will know who they are, but they are not coming forward. I hope the offer of a £1,000 reward for information leading to their prosecution and conviction will encourage them to come forward.

"It is vitally important these men are caught, not so that my family can get justice, but for other people. These robbers are randomly going to people's homes, without any fear. It won't be long before they seriously hurt somebody. They must be stopped before that happens."

Detective Inspector Neil Benstead, of Bradford District CID, said: "Officers have carried out detailed inquiries into this incident, which led to two men being arrested and questioned about the offence, but neither was charged.

"We remain committed to bringing the offenders to justice, and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

"It is possible the offenders may have confided in others about their actions. It is also possible that allegiances might have changed since this incident and people may now be in a position to give evidence against them.

"This was a violent robbery in which the victim and his family were assaulted and threatened with knives, and it is vital that we catch whoever was responsible before they strike again."

Information to Detective Constable Higginbottom, at Bradford District CID on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.