FAMILIES feared for their lives as windows were smashed and a 15-year-old girl assaulted in a violent incident involving three armed men.

The night-time attack on Haytor View happened after an argument.

The thugs returned and four windows were smashed at the end-of-terrace property.

A car was vandalised and a teenage girl hit over the head with a metal pole before her father was also assaulted.

The men, one of whom was said to be armed with a lock knife and a cordless drill, then allegedly barged their way into the flat and threatened the occupants before stealing unknown items and fleeing.

Seven police units, including officers armed with Taser guns, and a dog handler were called to the scene of the incident which happened at about 10.10pm on Tuesday.

Police cordoned off the Heathfield area and up towards Chudleigh Knighton.

One man was arrested at about 10.30pm near to the scene and the police helicopter was scrambled to help locate another two suspects who were found heading in the direction of Chudleigh Knighton.

The sniffer dog was deployed before one man was detained on the B3344 road near Chudleigh Knighton and a third man was arrested on the A38 Chudleigh slip road just after midnight.

A discarded hammer and a cordless drill were also found in a nearby field.

Yesterday, residents living at Haytor View described the event as something out of the Al Capone era.

Father of five Andrew Stuz, 42, said: "My oldest children came downstairs because they had heard smashing glass and were scared stiff. I went outside to see what was going on and three lads ran around the corner smashing windows on the ground floor flat next door.

"I asked them what they were doing and they just attacked us. My daughter was hit over the head with a steel bar and I was then hit on the arm."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard screams and glass smashing. We were petrified. I thought they were going to kill us. It was like something out of an Al Capone movie."

Police confirmed they received a 'number of calls' from worried residents who heard the commotion and described it as 'bedlam'.

Insp Ian Curson said: "We were called to an on-going incident of disorder. When we arrived there were a number of windows which had been smashed on the ground floor. Allegations were made that the offenders had stolen some items from the property and threatened the occupants.

"We recovered a small lock knife from one suspect and found a drill and a hammer which the dog handler found 40 yards away in a nearby field. These items may or may not be connected to the crime."

Insp Curson said the flat was in 'disarray' following the attack and an interior door had been badly damaged.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Trust said: "We were called at 10.39pm. Paramedics treated a 15-year-old girl for a head injury at the scene, she was not conveyed to hospital."

A 20 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and possession of an offence weapon. Two other men, aged 17 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

All three men were taken to Torquay Police Station for questioning.