Two burglars threatened a householder and made off with jewellery worth hundreds of pounds.

They used a crowbar to smash the back door of a house on Tatton Street in Stalybridge.

The owner was home at the time and went downstairs to investigate the noise but when he got to the kitchen felt an arm grab him by the neck. Fortunately he managed to struggle free, run upstairs and lock himself in the bathroom. After some time, he assumed the offenders had left but when he went downstairs, he was threatened.

The main offender is described as aged around 27, slim, with brown stubble on his face. He was wearing a dark hooded top.

They stole items of jewellery worth hundreds of pounds. These included a Tisento bracelet with grey pearls and a diamond, an 18-inch shoelace-style Tisento necklace with diamond loop and a grey pearl, a solid silver heart pendant with jade stone in the middle, solid silver heart earrings with a jade stone in each earring as well as a cream/gold silk jewellery pouch.

Det Con Richard Stewart said: "These men have broken into a man’s home and stolen his belongings. We at Greater Manchester Police will not accept this and are doing everything we can to catch them. If you have any information that you think could help, please get in touch."

Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident – which occurred at around 9.15pm on Thursday February 25 – can contact police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.