A WOMAN who had fallen asleep on her settee woke up to find a man standing over her watching her sleep, police said.

The 49-year-old from Nelson was asleep on her sofa when at 4.10am on Saturday she awoke to find the stranger in front of her.

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The woman shouted at him to leave and the man then fled the house on Bispham Road in the direction of Ada Street.

DS Louise Darcy, from Burnley police, said: "This was understandably a worrying ordeal for the woman who had simply fallen asleep on her settee.

“We don’t know what this man’s reason for being in the house was as he didn’t speak to her or take anything.

"Thankfully he left when the woman shouted at him to leave.

“I would like to reassure residents that we have stepped up patrols in the area and are working to find this man.

“I am asking anyone who may have seen him or anyone acting suspicious in the area at the time to make contact with us. Similarly if you have any information that could help at all, please get in touch.”

The man is thought to have got in to the house through an insecure ground floor window.

The stranger was described as Asian, aged in his 20s to early 30s and of slim build.

Cllr Eileen Ansar, who represents Clover Hill on Pendle Council, said: "I would have been absolutely petrified if I woke to find a strange man watching over me.

"This is obviously very distressing for the lady, but I am thankful that she was not physically hurt by the man.

"It's a shame that we cannot sleep at night with the windows open when it's warm but sadly that's the times we live in.

"I would ask residents to remain vigilant and be aware of the dangerous of leaving windows open at night."

DS Darcy said: "I would like to remind people the importance of ensuring their doors and windows are locked in light of this, particularly at night when would-be criminals could use this as a way in.”

Police said this followed a similar incident at a house on Hawthorne Grove, Barrowford on Saturday, July 23 when a 70-year-old woman woke up to find a man stood over her bed.

He left when she shouted at him and is also thought to have gained entry through an open downstairs window.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101 and quote 248 of August 13.