A couple were forced to flee inside their home after being confronted by two men one thought to be armed as they sat on their front porch.

The men entered the yard of the house in Paget on Monday, wielding what appeared to be a firearm.

But as they approached, demanding money, the 53-year-old man and 46-year-old woman ran safely inside the house.

The intruders however, then attempted to break into the property in Salt Kettle Lane, smashing a window in the front door.

A neighbour claimed they were masked and demanded $4,000 from the couple, but this was unconfirmed by Police yesterday.

It is the second incident in a week where a firearm has allegedly been used in an attempted burglary.

Last Tuesday three men with a gun put two seniors in fear of their lives at a house in Devonshire.

As one man restrained the housekeeper by the wrist, another aimed a gun at the homeowner's forehead. He then took her wallet and left the house.

The gang concealed their faces with bandannas and struck the property shortly after 3.30 p.m. In the latest incident, two men targeted the Paget house at 11 p.m. They are described as 6 ft and 5 ft, 6 in, and wore dark clothing and hooded tops.

A Police spokesman: "One of the men brandished what is believed to be a firearm. The couple fled into their home.

"It appears that the culprits then attempted to gain entry into the home but were unsuccessful. They then made good their escape empty-handed. The complainants were not injured.

"Police are appealing to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in and around the area during that time, no matter how insignificant they feel it was, to contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 295 0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800 8477.

A spokeswoman for the Salt Kettle Neighbourhood Watch group praised the Police response.

"We have had a very active Neighbourhood Watch for several years now and everyone has their eyes open," she said.

"We were very relieved that the Police were vigilant and responded very quickly to this incident."

Police said yesterday they were not linking the two incidents.

A spokesman said: "We are intelligence-driven, and by specific evidence. There is nothing to suggest this incident is related to an earlier act the other week. However, we are pursuing all kinds of inquiry."