AN investigation has been launched into claims that cheeky cops are said to have left a fridge-magnet calling card after smashing into the wrong house.

Officers hunting a criminal recalled to prison for breaching his release conditions broke into the home of a couple in Oldham.

The family came home to find a hole in their back door, police in the yard, and fridge magnets rearranged to spell "OLDHAM TASK FORCE CALLED".

Police bosses have launched an investigation.

Aaron West, his partner Leeanne Baker, and their two-year-old son Leighton had only moved into the rented house in Letham Street, Hathershaw, 11 days earlier.

Mr West, 20, said: "It's pathetic and childish. I want a written apology.

"We came back from shopping to find the back door smashed in and on the kitchen work top.

"The police here didn't tell us much, so I went to the station to ask why.

"But when I told the desk sergeant I didn't know who they were looking for, they just weren't interested.

"When I came home I noticed the fridge magnets had been rearranged and said: `OLDHAM TASK FORCE CALLED'.

"These are for children, they're not for the police to leave a message they've raided your house.

"It makes me feel they're treating me like some sort of scruff, basically something on the bottom of their shoe and they're laughing at me.

"I don't find it a laughing matter when my two-year-old son is in bed with a wooden door that can easily be pulled off every night."

Mr West said he has only slept for about four hours since the raid. His partner, Leeanne, wears hearing aids and is afraid to be in the house on her own in case she doesn't hear someone breaking in through the boarded up door.

"My son can't play in the back garden and I've had to write to the chief constable to ask for a new door. I want a written apology so I can show it to my neighbours.

"I only moved into the street 11 days ago, because it's a quiet area, so I've had to go round to my neighbours and explain I'm not an idiot or a criminal.

"The back door boarded up makes it look like a crack house.

"I work for a living. We try hard to keep our heads above water with the baby and everything, so I don't want to be treated like a scruff who hangs about on the streets all day."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Acting on the basis of intelligence, officers entered the house as part of a search for a wanted man who had been recalled to prison. The wanted man was not there but was later found and arrested at a nearby address.

"As regards the alleged use of fridge magnets, we are currently looking into this aspect of the incident. An inspector will now visit the man's house to discuss this with him."