Elderly couple badly hurt in attack

An elderly south Auckland couple were attacked with an axe after a family dispute.

An elderly Auckland couple is in hospital with serious head injuries after they were attacked by an intruder with an axe and a knife.

Police said the man "randomly attacked" the elderly couple in their Mangere Bridge home in South Auckland about 8.30am today, apparently after an argument with family members.

"It appears the man has had a dispute with family members and then attacked the two people who were living in the near vicinity of his home," said police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow.

The two elderly victims were taken to hospital with head injuries and were both in a serious but stable condition.

A man was also in hospital under police guard.

Police said they had recovered two weapons and cordoned off the the area where the attack happened.

- NZPA