KNIFE wielding robbers lay in wait for a shop worker as she returned to her Oxford home last night.

A 27-year-old woman returned home after work to Ridgefield Road, in East Oxford, where she was confronted by the men in her kitchen about 7pm.

They had forced their way in through a rear window.

She was pushed to the ground, tied at her wrists and ankles and threatened with a knife by the gang.

They demanded security codes and keys to The Money Shop in Cowley Road, which offers cheque cashing, loans and pawn broking services.

When she handed these over two of the three men left, with one man remaining at the house.

The victim freed herself after he left a while later and called police.

A short while afterwards, the gang went into the shop and opened the safe, but police said they didn’t yet know whether anything had been stolen.

Det Ch Insp Paul Hayles said: “Fortunately the victim was not seriously injured in this incident, but has been left very shaken and distressed.

“The offenders were all wearing balaclavas and were dressed in black. The man who stayed at the scene was black, and all three spoke with either Jamaican or Nigerian accents."

Anyone with any information should contact Ds Steve Raffield on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.