BALACLAVA-clad burglars broke into a million pound farmhouse before stealing £100,000 worth of jewellery.

The break-in saw the thieves smash their way through the back door before hunting out a safe containing the bespoke jewels.

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The two thieves are then captured on cctv dragging the safe on a garden chair around 200 yards through a field.

It is believed a car was waiting the pair, who then loaded the safe into the vehicle before fleeing the scene in Clayton-le-Dale.

The owners of the house, in Ribchester Road, said they had been left devastated by the attack.

Elaine Hurn, who lives with her partner Tony Catterall, said: "I could cry because it was all custom-made jewellery. It was all given as presents and is really sentimental."

Police were called to the scene to investigate the burglary, which happened between 6.20pm and 6.25pm on Monday.

Miss Hurn said she believed they may have been watching the house for sometime before the break-in to make sure the property would be empty.

The solicitor said: "I think we have been watched. That is more scary that the fact that we have all the hassle and upset.

"Tony and I are both solicitors and we work long hours. Somebody has clearly watched our habits. We do not always come home at the same time and we often work late because we have our own business.

"I am just glad I did not go home early. I suppose we have been very lucky.

"We also have CCTV and it is quite chilling to watch somebody come into your house."

Among the pieces kept in the safe were customised necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

The mother-of-two added: "They took everything I was not wearing. It was one-off stuff so it is quite distinctive and we are hoping somebody might be able to spot it if the burglars put it on the market.

"They did not cause a huge amount of damage, so I am sure they knew what they were looking for."

Miss Hurn urged anybody who might have seen any suspicious behaviour in the area to contact the police.

She said: "Half of Blackburn goes past our house at that time and so I hope somebody might have seen something on the night or possibly even somebody watching the house on other days."

Officers are carrying out an investigation and said they needed any potential witnesses to contact them.

Sgt Caroline Rigby, from the burglary team, said: "The householders are absolutely devastated.

"The burglary happened in quite a short time frame and the offenders went to the rear of the property, where they forced entry through the back door.

"They went in, conducted a search of the premises and took £100,000 worth of jewellery from the house.

"The jewellery was in a safe and they dragged it across a field, where we think a vehicle was waiting for them.

"If anybody saw anything suspicious or anyone acting suspiciously around that time, they should contact us."

Anybody with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.