A PENSIONER has spoken of a "terrifying" ordeal after a knife-welding robber burst into his Ayr home and demanded cash.

Roy Noble was told by the masked raider his wife, Betty, 81, had been kidnapped and he would have to stump up £6,000 to ensure she "wouldn't be harmed".

The 81-year-old told the Ayr Advertiser he was forced to leave his home at knife-point on Friday morning just minutes after Betty had popped out to the shops.

The knifeman forced Ray to drive to the bank to get the cash - but the defiant former scientist refused - insisting he change from his slippers to his shoes before leaving the house.

Ray said: "He came in, demanded money and then pulled the knife out and touched my clothing with it. At that point I told him we don't keep cash in the house, but I said I had my bank card. He told me to move and get in the car, but I was still in my slippers and told him I would not be going around town in my slippers, so I insisted on changing into my shoes.

"At the time I was just surprised when he pulled the knife out. It wasn't terror at that point. But afterwards when the realisation hit me of what had happened I started to shake and go all jittery. It really was terrifying.

"I just seen the back of him when I looked out the window, but had I known he was head-to-toe in black - even from his forehead down to his mouth. He even had some kind of goggle-things on. If I had seen that through the window I would have never answered the door, but you just don't expect that kind of thing to happen. "

Ray drove to Natwest in Miller Road and once inside he immediately alerted staff who called the police.

By the time police got to Ray's Jaguar where the assailant had been waiting, he had fled.

Ray says he is hopeful police will catch the "dangerous" knifeman, who police revealed had probably been watching the couple for some time before the raid.

He said: "The police have been wonderful. They said that in all likelihood he has been watching the house for a while. I would imagine he would have seen it's a nice house, looked through the windows and to see whether there's anything valuable and probably decided 'oh he has money'. Unfortunately for him I didn't.

"We are hopeful that they catch him. He is obviously a dangerous man. You don't carry a knife if you're not dangerous."

The assailant is described as white, between 25 and 30, clean shaven and well spoken with a dark hoodie and dark joggers.

Detective Sergeant Craig Semple from Ayr CID said: "We believe the suspect may have also been observing the victim’s movements at his home in the days leading up to the incident and I would urge anyone who has noticed any suspicious activity in the area recently to contact police.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Ayr CID via 101, quoting incident number 1361 of Friday 30 November 2018. Alternatively you can contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence."