A serial burglar could be targeting public houses in the Colchester area.

Police are investigating three burglaries which happened in living quarters above pubs on the same night.

The first took place at The Coopers Arms, in Ford Street, Aldham.

The occupant returned to the flat upstairs and discovered that a quantity of jewellery had been taken.

Later the same night, shortly before midnight, the landlord of The Brick and Tile pub in Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green, reported that its living quarters had been broken into.

The landlord had gone upstairs after closing the pub to find that someone had been rummaging around. About £300 to £400 was stolen, but it is not yet known if anything else was taken.

Officers from Colchester CID believe the two burglaries are linked, and they are investigating the possibility that the same person also attempted to break into a pub in Kelvedon.

In this incident, a man walked through a private back door at The Angel Hotel, in St Mary's Square. He "crept" through the staff area of the pub and upstairs to the private living room above.

The man was thwarted, though, when he came face-to-face with the occupant.

When asked what he was doing, the man said he thought it was a bed-and-breakfast and left.

The suspect was described as white, about 6ft tall and of stocky build. He had a bald, shiny head and wore a black-and-white striped top.

Each burglary happened on Wednesday night.

Anyone with any information on these burglaries is asked to call Detective Constable Tim Harris at Colchester CID on 0300 333 4444 or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.