Detectives were today seeking a one-armed, limping, hunchbacked midget in connection with a £10,000 jewellery raid in Bradford.

A business manager told how she spotted the four-and-a-half-foot suspect, who spoke with an Irish accent, 'casing' her luxury detached home the day before she suffered a devastating break-in. Jane Gibbons said: "When I called the police and gave them the description, I felt sure they would think I was joking."

Mrs Gibbons, of Harbour Road, Wibsey, said she noticed the man on her in-house CCTV system at about 1pm last Friday.

"He was looking around suspiciously and seemed to be checking out the camera and floodlights. When he began walking down the side of the house I went out and asked what he wanted," said the mother-of-one.

The man asked if she 'wanted to sell her caravan' before driving off in a blue pick-up truck.

Mrs Gibbons, 41, said: "I had absolutely no doubt that he was casing my house so I called the police. I just wanted to warn them in case he went elsewhere."

The following day, Mrs Gibbons and her husband Dave took their four-year-old daughter Charlotte to a birthday party in Selby.

At about 6pm, the security firm which monitors their home rang to say the alarm had been triggered but there were no signs of break-in. About half-an-hour later it sounded again, and this time burglars had forced their way in.

The gang grabbed about £10,000 of jewellery and Charlotte's Christmas money and necklace before escaping in a silver saloon.

"A neighbour chased after them and even managed to rip the number plate, which turned out to be carrying a false registration, off their car," said Mrs Gibbons.

She said the man was four-and-a-half feet tall, had an Irish accent, and one arm or possibly a shortened limb. He walked with a limp and had a hunch on his back.

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the incident and would like to speak to the man. It is thought the burglary may be linked to a number of other similar raids.

Anyone with information should ring (01274) 376459.