Police have apologised to a family who waited for more than an hour for officers to arrive after two people broke into their home.

Mum, Sue Griffiths, her daughter Ria and son Bradley, were eating their dinner in the kitchen when they heard someone in the living room.

Mrs Griffiths said: "My other son had just left and when I heard movement in the lounge I thought he had come back.

"I went to see what he wanted and came face-to-face with two people. They said they were looking for a friend."

She said the man and woman were drunk or under the influence of drugs. They had climbed through an open window at the front of the house in North Place, Brighton at about 7.15pm on Monday, August 4.

Mrs Griffiths and her daughter shouted at them to get out of their home and the pair left.

Mrs Griffiths dialled 999 and then telephoned her husband Mick, a minibus driver. He arrived at their home before the police and went looking for the pair in vain.

Two police officers arrived at the couple's home after an hour-and-a-half.

Mrs Griffiths, who works for a car repair company, said: "When the police came here they told us we shouldn't have our windows open. I asked them how they could say that when we were in our house and it was the hottest day."

Chief Superintendent Simon Parr said: "I apologise un-reservedly to Mr Griffiths and his family.

"The call from Mrs Griffiths was graded 'one' so police should have attended more swiftly. It was an unacceptable standard of service.

"In terms of advising householders to shut windows and doors, I know how hot it is at the moment but burglars will take advantage of any opportunity to get into a home."