Police have apologised after a single mother was left helpless in bed as burglars smashed their way into her home.

Mother-of-two Chelsea Muff, 25, said she had to wait 40 terrifying minutes for police to arrive following an urgent 999 call to report intruders in her living room.

The 25-year-old, of Pasture Lane, Clayton, had been asleep in bed when she was awoken at 1.55am by the sound of her front window being smashed.

"I jumped out of bed and just started screaming," she said.

"I was so frightened. I thought they were going to come upstairs and kill me."

Using her mobile phone she dialled 999 and was told police would be with her shortly.

"I was absolutely petrified and so were my children," she said.

"They cried their eyes out and my three-year-old daughter has not left my side since.

"There is just no excuse for leaving a single woman in a house with two children when there are burglars downstairs."

Miss Muff believes her screams made the intruders flea with just her handbag and four Lladro ornaments worth £150 each.

"They were in the house for about seven minutes and we could hear them banging around.

"I expected them coming up the stairs any minute. It was terrifying," she said.

A police spokesman said: "We are sorry for any distress caused.

"On emergency calls like these we like to guarantee getting to the address within 15 minutes and over the year we manage that in 92 per cent of cases.

"On this occasion it took us 36 minutes because the nearest patrols were tied up with arrests.

"However we accept the victim has not received the best possible service from the police force on this occasion."

But Miss Muff, who owns a shop in Queensbury, is now afraid to return home.

"I have always felt safe knowing I could call the police at any time but what's the point?" she said.

Police said inquiries about the break-in were being carried out and appealed for anybody with any information to call (01274) 376259.