A break-in was foiled when a householder confronted two burglars.

The 45-year-old man was working from his home in Nottingham Road, Leyton, at 11.30am on Monday (January 7) when he heard a noise at the front of the house.

When he went to investigate he saw two men breaking in through the front door.

When the thieves saw him they ran off in the direction of Peterborough Road.

He tried to run after them but the duo managed to escape.

Police arrived within minutes and took the suspect on a drive of the area but they were unable to spot the suspects.

They are described as white men aged between 18 and 20 years old.

They were wearing blue jeans and hooded tops.

A police spokeswoman said that in the 12 month period to November 2012, there was a 13.2 per cent fall in burglaries in Waltham Forest.