DETECTIVES in Hillingdon are hunting burglars who held a knife to a 15-months-old baby before stealing cash and jewellery.

They have released this e-fit image of one the suspects and are appealing for information and witnesses.

This follows a violent burglary in which one of the burglars posed as a meter reader.

At around 5pm on Friday, the victim - a 31-year-old woman - was at her home in Harlington Road, Hillingdon, when there was a knock at the door.

The suspect was wearing a lanyard around his neck and a high-visibility jacket which made the victim believe he was a genuine meter reader. The victim showed him where the meters were kept in a cupboard.

As she went into the kitchen, she heard her 15-months-old daughter scream.

She turned around and saw the suspect holding a knife to her daughter. The suspect then asked: "Where is the gold?"

He bound the mother's wrists and ankles and put her and the child in the bathroom. He was joined by a female accomplice and they began to search the house, eventually making off with a quantity of jewellery.

The mother and daughter were found by neighbours about 50 minutes later and police were called.

The male suspect is white, aged in his early 30s and approx 5ft 10ins tall. He had a goatee beard and a neck tattoo and spoke with a London accent.

He was wearing a blue-coloured fleece with a short-sleeved high-visibility jacket, dark trousers, black shoes and a woolly hat.

There is no description of the female accomplice, who was heard but not seen by the victim.

Det Con Anji Dawson said: "Thankfully, this type of incident is very rare and the victim did not suffer any serious injuries. However, it was a terrifying burglary which has left the mother of a very young child extremely shaken.

"This incident happened on Hallowe’en at about 5pm, so we believe there may have been many people in the area who may have seen the suspect.

“The victim did not see the female accomplice, but she did hear her. This woman must have been waiting close by and may well have been seen by someone in the street."

If you have any information, call Det Con Dawson on 020 8246 1529. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.