Retired sandwich seller Andrew Clive has told how burglars threatened him with scissors after he caught them breaking into his home.

The 63-year-old, who ran Doorstep Sandwiches in Chippenham ten years ago, disturbed the two thieves while they were rooting through his son’s bedroom at his home in Littleton Drew.

The police helicopter was scrambled and ten police units descended on the property but the men are still on the run.

Mr Clive said: “The experience certainly shook me up quite a bit. I was working in my kitchen garden and I heard a car alarm go off. I had been expecting my son home from Cumbria so went back to the house but his car wasn’t in the drive.

“I heard noises coming from his bedroom so went upstairs shouting his name.

“When I got to the top I was shocked to see a strange bloke, who wasn’t my son, come out of his room. He ran past me and scarpered.

“Then a second man carrying a holdall came out.

“He also ran past and when he got to the bottom of the stairs he made a stand and threatened me with some kitchen scissors. He asked me where I kept my money and valuables.

“I could see he had his back to our panic button which alerts the police so I walked towards him laughing saying I didn’t keep money in the house.

“He backed away and I pressed the button. He must have known what I had done because he then fled.”

Mr Clive said the men had taken electrical goods and a pair of oven gloves.

“They must have been in the house some time because they had already taken a 42ins plasma tv screen” said Mr Clive.

“They also took my son’s laptop and my wife’s digital camera.

“They also took a ropey pair of old oven gloves, which they are welcome to, and the dvd remote instead of the tv remote which wasn’t very clever.”

One of the men is described as white, in his early 20s, 5 ft 6in tall with dark hair and wearing a hoody. The second man is also white and has fair hair.

Witnesses can call police on 0845 4087000.