A Colchester man was taken to hospital after being stabbed by two burglars.

At about 11pm yesterday two men broke into a house in Holt Drive, Blackheath, demanding money.

Police said a 47-year-old occupant confronted the pair and received a number of wounds to his body, including his leg and back, before the men fled empty-handed.

The man, believed to be a college lecturer, was described as being in a stable condition at Colchester General Hospital today.

Police are seeking the weapon used, which is believed to be a knife, and they also believe the home was wrongly targeted.

The men were described as both white, one six feet tall in his late teens or early 20s, wearing a jacket with his hood up and a peaked cap, while the other was about 5ft 6in tall and wearing a hooded top.

Det Sgt Mark Merry, of Colchester CID, said: "This type of incident is fortunately rare but I am determined to find these two men.

"The man and his family are extremely distressed.

It was a shocking level of violence and my team of detectives want to hear from any witnesses who were in the area or anyone who has any information about who is responsible.

"I want these people caught and locked up."

  • Anybody with information is asked to contact Colchester CID on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.