Fisherman's Friend family robbed

The victims were from the family behind the Fisherman's Friend empire

The victims of a violent robbery in Lancashire were from the family behind the Fishermen's Friend throat lozenge empire, the BBC has learned.

Tony and Doreen Lofthouse were held captive by masked raiders who plundered their Thornton Cleveleys home on Friday night, locking the pair in a bathroom.

The couple, ranked 491st in the 2008 Sunday Times Rich List, were left shocked but unhurt after the raid.

The two offenders had East European accents and took cash and jewellery.

Det Insp Glen Oldham said: "This is a serious offence that has left the occupants in shock.

This is clearly a premeditated and carefully planned robbery

Det Insp Glen Oldham, Lancashire Police

"Thankfully neither of them was seriously injured, but the male occupant was taken to Blackpool Hospital for a welfare check."

The incident has been described by police as a "high value" robbery.

Mr Oldham added: "This is clearly a premeditated and carefully planned robbery so I would also appeal to anyone that saw anything suspicious in the days or weeks leading up to the robbery to call police with any information they think could be significant."

Red diamond pattern

Police believe the men entered the property about 2130 GMT and left about half an hour later.

It is not known in which direction they went or if any vehicle was used as part of their escape.

The first offender was described as being of a stocky build and approximately 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall. He was wearing a balaclava with a red diamond pattern on the front.

The second offender was about 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and described as slim and was also wearing a balaclava.

Global brand

Officers are looking through CCTV footage and conducting house to house enquires around the scene.

Fisherman's Friend was originally developed by Fleetwood pharmacist James Lofthouse in 1865 to relieve various respiratory problems suffered by fishermen working in the Icelandic deep-sea fishing grounds.

It remains a family company and Mr and Mrs Lofthouse, who was awarded the OBE last year for her charity work, transformed it into a global brand, making Fisherman's Friend available in more than 100 countries.

The Lofthouse family paid for the restoration of a replica of the London Eros statue and donated it to the town of Fleetwood in 2006.