DETECTIVES are hunting a masked and armed loyalist gang who assaulted her woman and smashed up her home last night.

Police say officers received a report just after 10:15 pm that a number of masked and armed men had forced entry to a property in the Forthill Drive in the Ballyduff estate a short time earlier.

It was reported a woman in the house at the time was assaulted, and sustained an injury to her lip.

Three other people who were also in the property were uninjured.

A door was damaged and a number of windows were smashed.

Substantial damage to a number of household items was also reported.

Enquiries are at an early stage, and detectives in Antrim are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw a number of men acting suspiciously to get in touch.

Anyone who has information which could assist the investigation is asked to call the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 2056 of 19/09/18.

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.