A family who were held hostage during the £53 million Securitas robbery must find a new identity for a second time after being recognised in the Australian town they have made home.

Colin Dixon and his wife Lynn and young child were given new identities after giving evidence against the gang who stole £53 million from the depot in Vale Road, Tonbridge in February 2006.

Now they have been forced to start over again with other names and a new address after a neighbour in Western Australia, where the family have been living for the past year, saw a court drawing of Mr Dixon, 52, made during the trial which ended in January.

Mr Dixon is expected to give evidence in a second Securitas trial next month when two men are due to appear in court charged with conspiracy to rob, kidnap and possessing firearms.

Mr Dixon, who lived in Herne Bay at the time of the robbery, was snatched from his car by members of the gang disguised as policemen as he travelled home from work on February 21.

He was held at gunpoint and forced to hand over information about the cash storage depot.

His wife Lynn and child were also kidnapped by the gang. Again disguised as policemen, two gang members knocked on the door of the family home and told Mrs Dixon her husband had been injured in a car accident.

After being told his family were hostages, Mr Dixon was forced to go with the gang to the depot and help them gain entry.

After filling a lorry with cash, the family and workers from the depot, were locked in cash cages and only escaped when the Dixon’s child struggled free.

In January this year, Lea Rusha, Stuart Royle, Jetmir Bucpapa, Roger Coutts and Emir Hysenaj were convicted of conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms in connection with the robbery.

Rusha, Bucpapa, Coutts and Royle were ordered to serve at least 15 years in prison. Inside man Hysenaj was told he must serve at least 10 years.

Kent Police are still searching for a Whitstable man in connection with the robbery. Police have confirmed they believe Sean Lupton, who they want to speak to about the £53 million heist, had been in Northern Cyprus and were continuing investigations to try and locate him.