POLICE are appealing for information after a man used a blunt instrument to threaten someone in their own home.

The attempted robbery happened at about 1.30pm on Monday, June 16, when the occupant of a house in Sanderson Street, in Darlington, answered a knock on the door and was confronted by a man who threatened them with a long blunt instrument and told them to hand over valuables.

The victim was able to close the door and the man ran off in the direction of Bank Top railway station without taking anything.

The assailant is described as being of slim build and about six feet tall. He was wearing a red zip up jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms with white stripes.

PC Simon Morris, from the Darlington Response Team, said: “This was a shocking and distressing incident for the victim and I would urge anyone with information to get in touch.

“Fortunately incidents of this nature are rare and I would like to reassure members of the public in Darlington that we are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry aimed at bringing this offender to justice.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.