NSW couple attacked while sleeping

A terrified couple was attacked and robbed in the middle of the night in their NSW south coast home.

A man broke into the Nowra house in the early hours of Wednesday and demanded cash before hitting the 67-year-old man with a piece of wood, NSW police said.

After a struggle in the bedroom and the hallway the thief fled with a handbag, wallet and the couple's car.

The injured man was treated by paramedics for minor injuries to his hand, shoulder and chest. His wife was unharmed.

The stolen car was found burnt out in south Nowra several hours later.