POLICE are searching for witnesses to a burglary in St Andrews Avenue.

Thieves broke into the property between 6.15pm and 6.50pm on Friday by forcing open a cat-flap in the back door to reach a key that had been left in the lock.

The burglars took an £800 gold necklace, a Playstation 3 with Call of Duty 2 in the disc drive and a £250 silver Citizen watch with a square face and blue detail.

They were disturbed by someone returning home and left through the rear of the property before fleeing along Longcroft Road.

Anyone with any information should call Colchester CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.