Elderly brothers attacked

One of the brothers injured during car hijack

Two elderly brothers have been attacked by thieves who hijacked their car in County Antrim.

Samuel Johnston, 73, suffered a broken nose and his brother David, 69, received stitches to a facial wound following the attack at their Glentoy Park home in Newtownabbey, at 2230 GMT on Thursday.

They were putting their car into a garage at their home when they were approached by two men pretending to look for sponsorship.

When one brother got out of the car, he was punched in the face and knocked to the ground.

The second brother was then punched and dragged from the vehicle.

The attackers drove off in the pensioners' car.

The pensioners' two sisters, who were in the house when the attack took place, are said to be extremely distressed.

The brothers were treated in hospital.

Police in Newtownabbey are appealing for information about the attack.

Couple held

Meanwhile, six armed and masked men have held a couple captive in their County Londonderry home.

The couple were held overnight and were forced to drive to a hot food bar at Strand Road, Derry, on Friday.

An undisclosed sum of money was then stolen.

The man and woman were then released, but are said to be very shocked by their ordeal.

Their car was later found burned out at Southend Park, Derry.