A WOMAN in her sixties challenged two men who distracted her before attempting to burgle her home.

The woman was working on her front garden in Mayflower Close, South Ockendon, when a man stopped and started chatting about the work she was doing.

While she was distracted, the second man sneaked into the house through the front door.

She noticed him inside and shouted at him to get out. He ran out and apologised, claiming he had the wrong house.

An Efit of this man has been released by police in an attempt to identify him.

Investigating officer PC Joanna Watts said: "Although this man rushed out of the house and nothing was taken he was quite brazen and went to knock at the house next door.

"But the woman challenged him again and said she knew her neighbour well and that he had no right to be there. Both men walked off, but in different directions.

"These two men are clearly trying to trick their way into homes in the area and we want warn residents to be on their guard.”

The man in the Efit is described as about 5ft 6in tall, slim, in his early 20s and wearing a dirty white polo top.

The man who distracted the woman was said to be in his 30s, plump and bald.

He was described as dirty-looking and was wearing a blue and white chequered short-sleeve shirt.

Anyone with information about them or the incident, which occurred on April 3, should contact PC Watts at Grays CID on 101.