A burglar fled a house after switching on the light in the sleeping victim's bedroom in a "frightening ordeal".

The burglar smashed the front door window to get into a home in St James Road while the householders were asleep.

He opened a drawer downstairs before turning on the light in a bedroom where a victim was asleep.

He then fled downstairs, grabbing a handbag on the way out.

Detective Constable Julie Vint said: “This was a frightening ordeal, and we are doing everything we can to trace the offender.

“Any information you have, no matter how small it might seem, could be vital to our investigation.”

The burglar is described as a white male who wore dark clothing and a ski mask.

Anyone with information should call the non-emergency number 101 or email julie.vint@herts.police.uk quoting crime reference 41/41268/22.

People can also report information online at herts.police.uk/report or speak to an operator via online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.