Man struck in head with shotgun during Woodberry home invasion

Detectives are hunting four masked men who robbed the 56-year-old victim of cash while two young children slept in another room.

A man was struck in the head with a shotgun as two young children slept in another room during a violent pre-dawn home invasion at Woodberry.

Port Stephens-Hunter detectives are hunting for masked men who stormed the Windermere Ave address about 4.30am on Monday.

Police said a male resident, 56, was asleep in the living room when he heard a knock on the front door.

He did not answer the calls to open the door before the masked men made their way into the victim’s backyard and through an open back door.

The man was threatened with the single-barrel shotgun before he was struck in the back of the head with the weapon by the gunman, who appeared much taller and larger than the other three men.

The men stole cash and other items before fleeing.

The raid occurred while a woman and two small children were asleep in other rooms.

The victim was treated by paramedics at the scene for head and wrist injuries.

The woman and two children were not physically harmed.

Detectives are now scouring neighbouring properties for possible CCTV of the attackers.

Information should be forwarded to Port Stephens-Hunter detectives via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.