A man returned to his Essex home to find a burglar’s car on his drive and the thief inside his house.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident which took place in Aythorpe Roding, near Dunmow, at around 12.05pm yesterday.

When the man arrived home, a car – with registration plate starting with FT11 – was on his drive and his front door and window had been smashed.

He then entered the house and confronted a man who was upstairs, who then proceeded to point what is believed to be a small handgun at him.

The burglar then left the property in a small, off-white beige coloured car.

Fire officers later found a wallet, credit cards and number plates at around 3pm on the same day in a layby in Debden Road, Newport.

This property is believed to have been taken from the burglary.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or a small car of the above description driving around the Aythorpe Roding or Newport area around these times to contact DC Christopher Sedgwick at Braintree CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Officers are also keen for any dash cam footage of a car of this type with this registration plate to be emailed to christopher.sedgwick@essex.pnn.police.uk