Brighton police are hunting two knifemen who sprayed fluid into a man’s eyes to distract him before bursting into his home.

The incident, which is being treated as aggravated burglary, took place in Campbell Road, near Preston Road, Brighton, in the middle of the afternoon on Monday.

The homeowners were at home when they heard a knock on the door.

As they answered the door two men with a knife sprayed fluid at them before bursting in.

One of the men squirted the substance – police do not know what it is – into the man’s eyes while holding up a knife. The other then barged in.

A police spokesman said the men searched the house before leaving empty-handed.

The homeowners did not know the men.

The police spokesman said: “The occupants of the house heard a knock on the door. They answered and there were two men there. One of the men sprayed a liquid into the man’s eyes.

“He was not injured by having the liquid sprayed at him and we are trying to work out what it is.

He added: “While this is a shocking incident we do not believe it was a random attack.”

One of the men was described as 5ft 2in tall, with stubble and blue eyes.

The other was white and about 5ft tall.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at 3pm, should call Sussex Police on 101.