A DAD-of-four who has spent the past the five years battling terminal cancer was attacked in his own home by a masked gang armed with a baseball bat and claw hammer.

John Calder, 63, was in the living room of his house on Fisher Avenue in Orford when the terrifying ordeal unfolded.

The victim was watching the TV shortly before 11pm on Friday when he heard a loud bang at the front door.

At first he believed it was his son returning home but he was confronted by four men who threatened him and demanded money.

“I heard this loud bang and then I could hear food trays falling in the hall,” said the retired former Rylands worker.

“There were four of them wearing dark clothes and balaclavas.

“I opened the living room door and one of them pushed me to the floor.

“They hit me with a baseball bat in the knee.

“I raised my hand to try to protect myself and one hit me in the hand with a claw hammer – they kept demanding money.”

Warrington Guardian:

PICTURED: Injury to John's hand following the attack

Within seconds, the group started to ransack his home in search of cash.

The gang fled the scene minutes later with some money which he had been saving for his children.

“I was told I had cancer five years ago so I just take each days as it comes,” said John, who lives at home with two of his children, aged 23 and 32.

“That money was for my children.

“I’m just glad my daughter wasn’t in the house as she is eight months pregnant.

“I have lived here all my life and I don’t have any enemies.

“You could tell these were professionals.”

After the gang fled the scene, the victim immediately dialled 999 with the police arriving at the scene within four minutes of the victim making the call.

It has been confirmed that no arrests have been made but investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 citing incident number 1121 of May 19 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.