After ringing for help, the brave little girl held the phone to her mother’s ear – while the knife-wielding bandit sped from their Millfield home in the family’s Honda Civic car.

A police helicopter took to the skies around Cessnock as other officers combed the area, but by 4pm it seemed the bandit had escaped.

Mr Costa joined his shocked wife Deb, their daughter and two-year-old son shortly after learning of their ordeal, when a bandit wielding a knife with a 15cm blade and wearing a black balaclava burst into their home off Wollombi Road.

Ambulance officers treated Ms Costa for cuts to her wrists and for shock.

“We think the actions of that little girl were very brave as she tried to help her mum,” Central Hunter duty officer Inspector Glenn Blain told the Mercury. He said the incident appeared to be a random attack.

The man, also wearing a black jacket, black pants and black boots, burst into the Costa’s home shortly before 8.40am.

After binding Ms Costa’s wrists and ankles – then tying her to a chair, the intruder made several unsuccessful attempts to get money.

“Then he took bottles of wine and the victim’s mobile phone,” Insp Blain said.

The bandit jumped into the family’s blue Honda Civic, registration BDY 26D and sped away.

The intruder was described as being 170cm tall, of medium build – and he was also wearing gloves.

Police have asked anyone with information to ring Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, Maitland police on 4934 0200 or Cessnock police on 4991 0199.