Axe attack in Melbourne home invasion

Up to five men have burst into a Melbourne house and attacked a man with an axe, seriously injuring him.

Police believe the three to five men who broke into the Malvern East house at 11.30am on Thursday and attacked the 24-year-old knew him.

The men jumped into a vehicle parked nearby and drove away, with police patrolling the area in an effort to locate them.