MASKED carjackers struck twice in the space of three hours, stealing one car and hitting a man around the head with a spanner in front of his pregnant wife.

A gang of three men attacked a 40-year-old man as he parked his black YJ-registered Audi A3 at his house on Dalebeck Close, Whitefield, at around 11pm on Tuesday.

He was threatened with a blunt object and possibly a hand gun.

The victim handed over the keys to the vehicle and the men drove off in it in the direction of Oak Lane.

Earlier that evening a 28-year-old man was getting out of his green MW-registered Audi A3 on Apollo Avenue in Sunnybank.

Three men wearing balaclavas approached the car before grabbing hold of the man and demanding he give them the keys.

The victim initially refused to hand over the keys and was hit around the head several times with what is believed to have been a spanner.

The man's pregnant wife then began screaming and the offender ran off towards Sandown Road.

Both the victim and his wife were transferred to hospital where the victim was treated for cuts to his head and his wife was treated for shock.

Neither were seriously injured as a result of the attempted robbery. Police are investigating whether the two robberies are linked.

Any witnesses can contact CID at Whitefield on 0161 856 8213 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.