HEROIC Jonathan Bennett needs a knee operation after he chased two burglars out of his house and leapt over a river in hot pursuit.

The 44-year-old production manager cannot straighten his leg or even stand properly after sustaining the injury when he sprung over The Wye.

Mr Bennett, of London Road, High Wycombe, said that he had been practising playing his saxophone when two burglars sneaked in through his patio window at around 5pm on May 26.

He said: "I heard noises and just found these two men looking around my house.

"They began to run and I chased them shouting 'stop thief' trying to attract attention.

"One of them got away but I was hot on the other one's trail.

"I leapt over the river trying to chase them and ended up injuring my knee quite badly as I landed on the other side.

"I was screaming blue murder at them but I knew they hadn't got away with anything. I chased them off before they could pick anything up."

Mr Bennett now has to hobble around on crutches while medical investigations are carried out on his knee.

Kate Spark, spokesman for Chiltern Vale Police, said that the incident was reported to the police and they are now looking for witnesses who may have seen the men, thought to be in their 20s and carrying a Tesco bag containing cans of beer.

If you have any information call Sergeant Nicola Body on 01494 465888.