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A man has stopped a masked male intruder reportedly armed with an axe from entering his bedroom during a burglary in Londonderry.

The incident, in which a masked woman also entered the property, took place at 01:45 GMT in the Caw Close area of the city's Waterside.

Police said the intruder tried to force his way into a bedroom but was blocked by the male occupant.

The man, a woman and a teenage boy who were in the house were not injured.

But PSNI Det Sgt Mark Gingell said they had been subjected to what "must have been a terrifying and frightening ordeal for them which will have left them shaken".

Police said the masked man entered the house first, followed by the masked woman. Both left a short time later.

The female intruder is described as being approximately 5'2" tall, with dark hair tied up and wearing a navy hooded top and possibly dark-coloured jeans. The masked man is reported as being around 6' tall with dark hair and wearing a dark-coloured hooded top, dark bottoms and sunglasses.

Police said the man made off in the direction of Nelson Drive while the woman fled in the direction of a nearby country park.

They said the incident was being treated as aggravated burglary and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.