A 38-year-old man was left traumatised after two bogus police officers handcuffed him to a chair in his own home before fleeing the scene.

A police spokesman said the fake cops, wearing what the victim described as "very convincing" uniforms, arrived at a four-bedroomed semi-detached property in Maythorne Drive, South Hetton, County Durham, at 6.15pm on Friday.

The men knocked on the door of the house and announced they had come to arrest the occupant, who has not been named.

They then made him sit on a chair in the living room, before immobilising his hands with what appeared to be genuine police-style handcuffs.

However, the bogus officers fled when a friend of the victim arrived at the house and became suspicious.

They are thought to have made their escape in a dark Citroen saloon car, possibly in the company of two other men who may have stayed outside the property.

The householder was released from his bonds when real police officers arrived.

He was shaken by the incident but physically unhurt. At this stage it is not known if the intruders had time to steal anything from the house.

Acting Detective Inspector Mick Kirtley said: "The victim was genuinely taken in by the police uniforms these men were wearing, which apparently were very convincing.

"This was a disturbing incident and we are appealing for people to contact us if they noticed anything unusual in Maythorne Drive on Friday evening."

The first bogus policemen is described as being aged 40 to 45 years old, around 5ft 9ins tall, with ginger/grey stubble. He spoke with a Scottish accent.

His accomplice was younger, perhaps 30 to 40 years old and of the same height, but thinner than the first man.

He had short, dark hair which was gelled.

Both men wore a black police hat, a waterproof jacket with a reflective pattern across the chest and the word "POLICE" across the back.

Anyone with information should contact Peterlee CID on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.