A BUSINESSMAN was tied up in his own home and robbed of his dead wife’s keepsakes.

Three masked men broke into the detached home of property developer David Knowles in Wiswell Lane, Whalley, around 8.30pm on Sunday night.

They tied up Mr Knowles, who is in his 50s, and ransacked the property, taking jewellery worth an estimated ‘six-figure sum’.

Police said the gang took items of ‘sentimental value’ which belonged to the victim’s wife Joan, who died from ovarian cancer 18 months ago.

Mr Knowles said: “I was sat in my front room having something to eat when these three masked men dressed in dark clothing just came in.

“There was no sound, but they had prized open a window at the back of the house and broken in.

“They knew my name and were telling me not to do anything stupid. They took my Rolex watch off my wrist and tied them behind my back.

“I just did what they said. All the time they were threatening me with a crow bar. When they left, they moved me to the stairs and tied my legs to the staircase.”

Mr Knowles, who is the managing director of Westbridge Developments Ltd, which builds houses in Blackburn and Darwen, freed himself and alert police shortly after 9pm.

He said: “They took all my wife’s diamond jewellery, which I had been saving to give to my daughter at a later date. It’s of massive sentimental value.

“The initial shock was when they walked into the front room. From then I just wanted to give them what they were after and get them out of the house.”

Police believe the gang broke into the rear of the property and left through a back door on foot, across Mr Knowles’ land which backs on to the A59.

The robbery has echoes of one in Stanhill Road, Oswaldtwistle, in February, where a middle-aged couple were also tied up in their own home.

In that incident, four men with Eastern European accents parked a dark-coloured Volkswagen Golf in the area before stealing jewellery and cash.

Property Tycoon Toby Whittaker has been targeted in his own home in Read twice in the last two years.

Detective Inspector Claire Holbrook said:“Two of the men used Eastern European accents, but we understand people can put accents on as well.”

Police have appealed for any witnesses who may have seen an unattended car parked up, or any suspicious vehicles or activity close to the A59 heading towards Barrow on Sunday evening.

Police are also appealing to any wholesalers who have sold three brand new dark blue 2ft crowbars.