HOSTAGES held captive by a gang which carried out Britain’s biggest cash robbery escaped when the young child of the depot manager managed to struggle free from the metal cage they were imprisoned in, a court has heard.

The jury at the Old Bailey heard that the young child of depot manager Colin Dixon, who was kidnapped from home with its mother as part of the plot, managed to struggle free from the metal cage where it was held captive.

After the robbers left the depot with their £53million haul, nobody moved and some could barely believe they were alive.

It was not until the child managed to expand a gap in the cage that escape became possible.

Eight people - seven men and a woman - deny various charges in connection with the the £53million robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge in February 2006.

Lea Rusha, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Stuart Royle, from Allen Street, Maidstone, Jetmir Bucpapa, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, Roger Coutts, of The Green, Welling, John Fowler, of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Ermir Hysenaj, of New Road, Crowborough, and Michelle Hogg, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to have in their possession a firearm.

A seventh man, Keith Borer, from Hampstead Lane, Yalding, stands accused of dishonestly receiving £6,100 of stolen Securitas money, which he denies.

The case continues.