Police armed with search warrants were faced with frightened and bemused residents after bursting into the homes on Clifford Street in South Elmsall near Pontefract.

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Allan Cowell, 38, was helping daughters, Leah, seven, and Nina, four, get ready for school, when police raided his house in the morning on Monday, December 14.

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Mr Cowell said: "My daughters looked very stunned, I had to comfort them. They had a search until they realised they had the wrong house.

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"They made the door secure when they left, it's still a bit smashed. They said to see the landlord and bill the police for it.

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He added: "I don't want this to happen to anyone else."


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Diane Wood, 57, was home with her 18- year-old grandson, Kieran Osborne, when her home was raided by police.

She said: "I was in the kitchen when I heard a banging. My grandson was in bed, they went into his bedroom, asked his name and the number of the house.

"The man did apologise and a policewoman sat with me for five minutes when they realised they had the wrong house.

"My landlord put a new door on straight away but it's the shock. I'm mad and upset about it. I was crying and shaking, I was ina right panic."

Police have apologised and said a local neighbourhood police team inspector would be speaking to those affected.

A spokesman said: "Planned warrants were being executed at addresses in South Elmsall. Due to an error, officers unfortunately attended wrong addresses on Clifford Street.

"This is a very rare occurrence. We apologised immediately to the occupants and immediately arranged for the necessaryrepair work to be carried out."