A police appeal has been launched after a man was threatened with a knife and hammer and his home deliberately flooded during a daylight burglary.

The victim's home in Lambourne Road, Chigwell, was ransacked on Friday (July 17) at around 3.30pm.

Two men entered the home after claiming they needed to read the gas meter.

An Essex Police spokesman, said: "They threatened the man inside before ransacking the house and removing several items of jewellery.

"They damaged furniture and turned the water on which partially flooded the house.

"The men were armed with a knife and a hammer.

"The occupant, aged in his 50s, was left shaken but uninjured."

One suspect is of Asian appearance, around 5ft 6ins tall, of medium build, around 35 years old, has a moustache and medium length hair which was swept back.

He was wearing a black round-neck t-shirt and blue jeans.

The second man was white, around 6ft tall, of a large build, between 35 and 40 years old with blonde short hair.

He was wearing a white shirt with black trousers and was carrying a black holdall bag. He may have been wearing gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Loughton CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.