A STARTLED man told last night how he found himself the subject of an indecent proposal when he awoke to find a sex-starved, leather-clad transvestite in his living room.

The first that John Halliday, 20, knew of the cross-dressing intruder was when he woke up on his sofa at about 3.30am on Monday, November 18, to find the transvestite standing over him, in his house in Poplar Street, South Moor, near Stanley, County Durham.

"I had dozed off on the settee," he said. "I woke up and he was standing over me and staring at me. At first I thought he was going to murder or rob me - I was totally terrified. I jumped up and asked him who he was and what he was doing there.

"He said he was my best friend, then he ran out. He was a weirdo and is totally minging."

A shaken Mr Halliday went straight to his mother's house nearby, where he spent the rest of the night.

The transvestite at some point returned and left a hand-written note on his coffee table.

The lewd note said: "I am game if you are up for it. If you want sex with a trannie, leave a message in the toilets".

The intruder is described as white and was wearing leather knickers and sandals, a hat and a blonde or grey shoulder-length wig.

Anyone with information should contact PC Sarah Hindmarsh, of Stanley Police, on (01207) 232144.