A gang of more than 20 masked men armed with guns and other weapons stormed a travellers’ site intent on robbing large sums of money, a court heard.

They terrorised families in caravans, including women and young babies, and one man was brutally attacked.

The gang had targeted the site, Wheat Gratten Stable Yards in remote Forstal Road, near Lenham, on the night of April 26 last year.

“They tied up some of their victims with cable ties which had been brought ready prepared for this purpose,” prosecutor John O’Higgins told Maidstone Crown Court.

“Other residents alerted by the commotion sought to repel the attackers. Shots were heard, vehicles were rammed. The attackers fled into the night.”

Two alleged members of the gang, Kion Barker, 22, and 29-year-old Vincent Stickings are on trial.

Mr O’Higgins told the jury of eight women and four men they would hear evidence about seven men who had already been convicted of conspiracy to rob in January. They were acquitted of possessing firearms.

Two others admitted the conspiracy charge. Two had managed to evade the police.

It was well known, he said, that travellers were often reluctant to engage with the wider community, let alone the authorities.

“It would, you may think, take something as exceptionally serious as an armed attack on their homes and families to persuade some of the residents to cooperate with the police and the investigative and trial process.”

Mr O’Higgins said as the attackers began to withdraw and the tables were turned, one woman whose husband had a gun put in his face and had been tied up, managed to dial 999.

The police were soon on the scene and searched the area. They found four cars that had been seriously damaged and abandoned in the road. An Audi TT was followed and the occupants were arrested.

“The four abandoned cars yielded a treasure trove of clues from which the police were able to identify the men involved,” said Mr O’Higgins.

Phone evidence revealed the men from various parts of the south-east had converged on the yard at the same time. It also showed there had been two previous visits to the area.

The gang had equipped themselves with balaclavas, torches, iron bars and cable ties in preparation for the raid.

Mr O’Higgins said there had been a substantial investigation by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit of Kent Police, which was ongoing.

"Many of the attackers were extremely excited, leaping around and almost dancing, whooping and laughing, as if they were under the influence of drugs" - Prosecutor John O'Higgins

Grandmother Mary Powell told police she saw about five men dressed in black and wearing “ski masks” climb over a fence. Two other men were crouched behind a wall.

She then saw her husband Philip running back, pursued by four men. They smashed the door with a sawn-off shotgun and ran in.

He was punched and one of the men put a shotgun between his eyes and screamed: “Give us the money.”

He told them he had a little money they could have. They bound the couple’s hands with cable ties.

Mrs Powell agreed to take them to a caravan to get cash. One of them found £500 but he was not satisfied and wanted more.

“She heard cars revving and the sound of what she thought were shots,” said Mr O’Higgins.

After the men went outside Mrs Powell called the police. She ran to her daughter’s caravan to see if her children were alright.

Before she could do so, her daughter drew up in a car with her two children and screamed at her to get in.

“The children were terrified,” said Mr O’Higgins. “She could see the attackers dispersing. She thought there had been about 30 men with six to eight vehicles.

“She later realised a larger quantity of money had been stolen. She was shown a photo of the money found and confirmed it was wrapped in the way they would keep money.”

Another victim was Moses Smith who lived in a caravan with Sarah-Jane Powell and their nine children, including newborn twins.

Mr Smith saw about 15 men run through the gate. He told his partner to lock herself and the children in a bedroom. About nine men ran towards their home.

A man with a bandana around his mouth smashed the glazed door with an extendable truncheon. Another man holding a knife arrived.

Mr Smith picked up a kitchen knife to defend himself. The man with the knife told him: “You wanna play knives. You want to fight batty boy?”

Another man wearing a balaclava was holding a handgun. He threatened to shoot Mr Smith if he did not go outside.

He went out and was immediately struck on the head with the truncheon. He was held by two men as the one with the gun demanded: “Tell us where it is.”

Another attacker struck Mr Smith on the head with a gun. The victim fell to the ground and was then attacked by about six men with a crowbar and baseball bat.

“He was kicked, beaten and stabbed on his arm and leg,” said Mr O’Higgins.

A “huge black male” demanded to know where the money was. The caravan was searched and about £2,000 was stolen. The man said he would kill him if he did not tell them where the rest of the money was.

Mr Smith responded that he would have to do it because there was nothing else.

Suddenly, all the intruders started to run to the gates. Mr Smith managed to get his family in his car and drive away. As he did so, the car was hit by another vehicle.

He drove to a house down the road and arrived there covered in blood.

“One of the things that particularly struck Mr Smith was that many of the attackers were extremely excited, leaping around and almost dancing, whooping and laughing, as if they were under the influence of drugs,” said Mr O’Higgins.

Mr Smith was treated in hospital for injuries to his head, forearm and cuts to his arm and thigh.

Barker, of Clonbrock Road, Stoke Newington, east London, and Stickings, of Whinchat Road, Thamesmead, south east London, deny conspiracy to rob and carrying firearms or imitation firearms with intent to rob.

The trial continues.