A WOMAN leapt from her first-floor flat to escape a gun-wielding burglar.

She was playing on a computer game when she was confronted by the masked intruder in her home in Badburgham Court, on the notorious Ninefields estate in Waltham Abbey.

A man in dark clothes and a black balaclava forced his way through her locked front door and pointed a handgun at her at about 9.30pm on Wednesday (April 15).

The woman, aged in her 20s, escaped by jumping from a backdoor onto a grass verge about 12ft below, leaving the thief to steal cash, a diamond ring and a watch.

Neighbour Kelly Newbery, 23, a parks manager who lives in the flat directly above, said her and her boyfriend were woken by the sound of banging and then a woman screaming at about 10pm.

She said: "She did sound distressed but then it died down. And then we were disturbed by red brake lights from a car shining through the bedroom window and a man shouted 'oi' and then we heard a car screech away."

Kelly said the same flat has been burgled before, about two years ago while the occupants were away on holiday.

She said: "It does concern me that things like this happen here. I live alone and it could have been me. My boyfriend has been staying round every night since it happened, and I am going to ask the council if I can move somewhere else."

Detective Constable Jo Lanz, of Waltham Abbey CID, said: "Naturally, this woman is extremely upset after her ordeal.

"Surprising she wasn't injured during her escape, but she is still suffering from shock."

She said they are particularly keen to identify the male driver of silver Ford Mondeo seen on the corner of nearby Amwell Court at the time of the incident, and added: "We don't know if he is an innocent motorist or whether he was involved in the crime."

The attacker is said to be of medium build and about 5ft 6in tall.

Witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 0300 3334444, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.