Ian and Rebecca Fisher, from Fauldhouse, have been left traumatised by the ten-minute ordeal after fighting off the hooded men armed with hammers and a crow bar.

Hours later three masked men also robbed a woman in a nearby street and police are "keeping an open mind" regarding a link between the two incidents.

Mr and Mrs Fisher heard a noise in the back garden on Sunday evening where the trio were loitering in the dark.

When Mr Fisher, 61, asked if anyone was there the three men approached the house and started to attack the windows as he closed the door on them.

Mrs Fisher, 57, who was left with a cut on her face from the broken glass, said: "When we asked who was there we expected them to run but they just came at us with hammers and a crow bar. It was horrific.

"They started breaking the windows and hammering at the door. I was covered in glass and my kitchen looks like a war zone. It's destroyed. There was glass everywhere. It was all over us.

"They just flew at us with hammers and I'm glad we managed to get the door shut, but we had to keep fighting them off when the windows shattered. My husband had to grab a knife and threaten them to keep them out of the house."

Mrs Fisher said the attack lasted for around ten minutes, but she managed to call police and the men fled when they heard sirens.

"All throughout they never even said a word so I don't know why this has happened," added the mother-of-three.

"Maybe they knew I have a snack bar and thought I would have money in the house, but I never keep money here.

"I was viciously mugged before, but my husband has never been through anything like this. It's been a terribly traumatic time."

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the incident, which happened at around 10:30pm on Sunday in Greenburn Road.

He added: "The three suspects are all described as male with a slim build. Two were wearing dark hooded tops with the hood up to obscure their face. The third male was wearing a grey hooded top.

"Anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything suspicious or can help us identify those responsible is asked to contact police immediately."

Officers are also appealing for witnesses after a robbery by three masked men outside the Masonic Club in the town's Bridge Street at around 9:30am on Monday.

The female victim was leaving the club when three men ran towards her, smashed her car window and stole a four-figure sum of money from inside.

The robbers, who were described as wearing balaclavas, hooded tops or scarves covering their faces, made off with the cash in the direction of Greenburn Golf Course.

A member of staff from the club said: "She was pretty badly shaken up by the incident and has been off her work since. It was a very frightening experience for anyone to go through."

A police spokesman said: "This was an extremely serious incident, and while the victim wasn't injured, she was understandably shaken as a result of the ordeal she had suffered."

A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the robbery, and was due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court this week. Inquiries are ongoing to trace the two remaining suspects.

Officers in West Lothian are appealing for witnesses to the incident, especially anyone who may have seen two silver Ford Fiestas, which have been recovered.

One of the vehicles was a van-type car with no rear windows. Both were seen being driven erratically in Fauldhouse around the time of the incident.

The spokesman added: "We want to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw three men acting suspiciously together in Fauldhouse on Monday morning, either before or after the robbery took place.

"Similarly, anyone who saw either of the two Ford Fiestas being driven erratically around Fauldhouse or Shotts later that day should contact us."

"Anyone with any other information that can assist our inquiries should also get in touch."

One of the vehicles was recovered in Fauldhouse, and the other vehicle was later traced in Shotts.