A family were left horrified after waking in the middle of the night to find a stranger in their house.

The incident happened at an address on Cambridge Grove in Ilfracombe around 1.25am on Saturday (July 6).

The family heard a door opening downstairs before their dog started barking.

The husband went down to see what was happening and saw a man leaving the property.

They took to Facebook to share the details of what had happened and to warn others.

Cambridge Grove in Ilfracombe where the incident occurred
Cambridge Grove in Ilfracombe where the incident occurred

They said: "Some bloke just decided to walk into our home.  The dog went mental.

"My husband heard the door and chased him off down into Montpellier Terrace.

"The man was wearing black trousers and a white t-shirt with horizontal stripes.


"He was wearing a black jacket but as he was running off he tried to change his appearance by removing it and had the white t-shirt on."

The husband managed to flag down a passing police car and informed them of what had just happened.

In the post the mother of the family said: "The police were brilliant and dispatched three officers and the dog unit.

"No news as to whether they caught him.

"Be aware people."

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A member of the public flagged down a police car at around 1.50am after he found an intruder within his house on Cambridge Crescent, Ilfracombe.

"Units attended and searches were undertaken with support of the dog unit, but no suspect was located.

"No items were stolen during this incident​ and officers have given home safety advice to the reporting person."