Armed with a sledgehammer, crowbar and large kitchen knife the masked raiders held the former Atomic Kitten and her daughter in a downstairs room while her husband was marched through their £1.5 million red-brick mansion.

The family were not harmed, but the three raiders escaped with the blue BMW M5 and £100,000 of valuables including two lap-top computers and jewellery.

Police found the car, which was not damaged, on Tuesday night, 10 miles away on Reeves Road in Chorlton, Manchester.

It has now been taken to a secure garage to be forensically examined for clues.

Detectives say finding the BMW could be a vital clue in catching the robbers.

Det Sgt Rob Balfour, from Cheshire Police, said: "Locating the car could be crucial and I would like to speak to anyone with information regarding the BMW.

"This was a violent offence fuelled by greed and the public should not have to put up with criminals prepared to commit such an offence."

Kerry has checked into the Priory clinic following the incident.

She is being treated for bipolar disorder, a form of manic depression which she has battled for several years.


Kerry in Priory after knife ordeal - July 19 2007
Kerry Katona has checked into the Priory clinic following the knifepoint robbery at her home.

The 26-year-old former Atomic Kitten is being treated for bipolar disorder, a form of manic depression which she has battled for several years.

Her condition has deteriorated since the terrifying armed raid in which she and her five-month-old daughter, Heidi, were held hostage at their home.

Kerry’s spokesman, Max Clifford, said: "Kerry has gone into the Priory. Bipolar disorder is something she has suffered from for some time, and the condition has, of course, been very much brought on by what happened.

"She has been treated in the Priory before so they know her problems and her symptoms. It was a question of getting her there as quickly as possible so she can receive the right treatment."

The former I’m A Celebrity... show winner is expected to remain in the London clinic for up to two weeks.

Three masked robbers raided the £1.5 million home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, which the star shares with husband Mark Croft.

The gang was armed with a crowbar, sledgehammer and large kitchen knife.

One of them held a blade to Kerry’s throat as she cowered with her baby daughter, while another took Mark, 36, through the house as they grabbed tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and electrical equipment.

They also took the couple’s BMW M5.

Kerry was left "absolutely distraught" by the raid.

Her two young daughters by ex-husband Brian McFadden were not in the house at the time.

Police check CCTV after Kerry raid - July 17 2007
Detectives are examining CCTV footage from the home of Kerry Katona after an armed raid at the property.

The former Atomic Kitten, her husband Mark Croft and their five-month-old daughter Heidi were held at knifepoint by three masked robbers.

One of the gang held the blade to Kerry’s throat while her husband was escorted through their red-brick mansion in Wilmslow, Cheshire, by another raider.

The family were not hurt but were left shaken by the ordeal.

The intruders escaped with the couple’s top-of-the-range blue BMW M5 and thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and electrical equipment.

A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said no arrests had been made and none of the stolen property had yet been recovered.

He said: "We have no plans to issue an update on the inquiry today."

The spokesman also refused to comment on whether the police were following any promising leads.