A DAUGHTER was left terrified when she rolled over in her sleep to be confronted by a balaclava-clad burglar staring back at her.

The disguised thief and his accomplice had crept round the family's home in Lake Side, Leigh, for 45 minutes to steal jewellery, gadgets and cash before Charlotte Mather, aged 22, awoke to be confronted by the masked raider at just after midnight on Thursday.

Charlotte's mother Anne Turner, aged 56, said: "My daughter is absolutely traumatised. She can't go into her bedroom now. My husband Anthony feels guilty that he was asleep."

The burglars used a plank of wood – possibly a floor joist – leaned against the house to clamber up and force open a master bedroom window left slightly ajar.

Mrs Turner said: "I wasn't at home and my husband and daughter were in the house. My husband fell asleep on the sofa while watching the television and my daughter was in bed. He woke up, locked everything up, went upstairs and then went to bed. He noticed the wardrobe doors were open but didn't think anything of it. My daughter turned over in bed and a man wearing a balaclava was just crouched down at the side of her bed, staring at her.

"She screamed and even when she screamed he didn't run off right away, he stole her mobile phone out of the charger and left the room.

"My husband came out of our bedroom and heard a man running down the stairs. He looked through the window and saw them running through the field."

Mrs Turner, a care assistant, said the culprits were in the house for three quarters of an hour before being disturbed.

The family lost a Lipsy handbag, a purse containing £60, a rose gold DKNY watch, pouches of loose tobacco, a Samsung mobile phone, a man's Sekonda watch and a sovereign ring, a new LG smartphone that had been delivered that day, costume jewellery, heirloom jewellery left to Mrs Turner by her mother and jewellery given to her as presents.

Mrs Turner said: "They were so hard-faced. They even crept past my husband while he was asleep to unplug a soundbox from behind the television although they didn't take it. The men were definitely in the house when my husband went upstairs, and they've hidden.

"They had even taken one of the house keys off a key ring and put it in the front door so if they were escaping they could lock someone in the house."

The burglar in the balaclava was 5ft 8in, had a slim build and wore dark clothing while his accomplice was 5ft 11in and of medium build and was wearing dark clothing.

They fled across Firs Park towards the Plank Lane area after escaping the property.

Mrs Turner said: "Things can be replaced but I'm just lost for words for how brazen somebody can be. I'm very concerned that somebody could have the nerve to steal when they know someone is in the house. We're in a mess."

GMP have made no arrests.

Police Constable Anthony Bradley said: “Thankfully nobody was hurt during the burglary however one of the occupants of the house woke up to find the offender searching her room which must have been a terrifying experience for her.

“She was understandably shook up and we have been providing her with support and will continue to do so.

“Although we have not made any arrests, the investigation is continuing and if anybody has any information on the incident then I would urge them to please contact the police.”