Forensic teams were understood to have left the property and the couple’s other cars were seized as a precaution after it emerged that the thieves had stolen several sets of vehicle keys.

The gang struck at around midnight, forcing their way into the house, armed with a crowbar, sledgehammer and large kitchen knife.

While two of the men held Kerry and her baby captive, the third forced Mark to show him around the house while he decided what to steal.

The couple freed themselves at around 12.30am and called police.


Kerry and baby held captive - July 16 2007
Former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona and her baby daughter have been held captive at their home by three armed burglars .

The 26-year-old singer, her husband Mark Croft, 36, and five-month-old daughter Heidi were attacked at around midnight at their home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

The masked gang, armed with a sledgehammer, crowbar and large kitchen knife, held the mum of three and her daughter in a downstairs room while her husband was taken through the house by raiders.

The family were left unharmed but the robbers escaped with around £100,000-worth of goods, including the couple’s blue BMW M5, two laptop computers and jewellery.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said the family were left "extremely alarmed" by the ordeal, but were unharmed.

The family managed to free themselves at around 12.30am and contacted police.

A police spokesman said: "Shortly before midnight, Mark Croft, 36, his wife, Kerry Katona, 26, and their young baby, Heidi, who was five months old, were confronted in their home by three masked men.

"All the intruders were wearing balaclavas and they were armed with a sledgehammer, crowbar and large knife similar to a kitchen knife.

"This experience was extremely alarming to the family.

"One of the offenders remained in a downstairs room with the mother and baby while the other two offenders made Mr Croft accompany them through the house while they identified property to steal."

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said they were keen to speak to anyone who had seen the car, registration MF06 KMM.


Kerry unimpressed with blow-up Posh - May 29 2007
Kerry Katona has hit out at Victoria Beckham’s use of a blow-up doll to distract the paparazzi, describing the stunt as "embarrassing".

Posh sent photographers on a wild goose chase through Los Angeles last week when she sent her car out carrying the blonde inflatable, then set off minutes later with nobody waiting for her.

But writing in OK! magazine, the former Atomic Kitten star said Victoria needed to realise the photographers are the reason she’s famous.

"I was gobsmacked," she said. "It’s a bit embarrassing really, because at the end of the day I don’t think Victoria would be who she was without the press - she’s like me at the minute, famous for just being famous in her personal life.

"The paparazzi sit outside our house every day but I usually just say, ’Alright, how you doing?’ At the end of the day they’re just doing their jobs."

Since leaving Atomic Kitten in 2001, Kerry has appeared on several daytime TV shows and won the 2004 series of I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

Baby girl for Kerry - Feb 20 2007
Kerry Katona gave birth to a baby girl today, four weeks prematurely.

The former Atomic Kitten and new husband Mark Croft have named her Heidi Elizabeth.

She was born at Warrington General Hospital at 1pm by Caesarean section, weighing 5lbs.

"Mother and baby are doing fine," said her spokesman Max Clifford.