BURGLARS escaped in a homowner's car after breaking into their house in Marks Tey.

Police recovered the silver Missan Micra in Amanda Close, Chigwell, and are searching for the criminals responsible.

Thieves smashed through the window of a house in London Road opposite the Marks Tey Hotel.

They took the car keys at about 3pm on Wednesday and then dumped the car on the other side of Essex.

Anyone who witnessed the burglary or saw the car being abandoned call Colchester police on 101.