A FATHER and son were almost run down by a getaway car as three men escaped following a burglary at their home.

Nathan Vale and his son Joe, 17, were forced to jump over a wall as the would-be thieves' silver Peugeot 306 sped towards them.

A terrified Mr Vale said the three men wheel-spinned away from his Risca home, on Birch Grove, before turning the car around and heading straight towards him.

The Vale family were woken around 4.15am on Thursday morning by the bark of their pet black labrador Henry as two of the men attempted to break into a garden shed and steal mountain bikes.

Mr Vale, 34, chased the gang, whose faces were hidden by scarves and hoods, to their getaway car and attempted to haul one of the men from the car.

The gang shouted abuse at Mr Vale's wife Linda, 43, who screamed at the men from the kitchen window.

"It was as if time stood still. The adrenaline was pumping at the time because I was so angry.

"It's only now it is really hitting home. It was pretty scary," Mr Vale said.

Mr Vale said it was the second time thieves had attempted to break into the shed at the side of his home in six months.

Gwent Police confirmed officers are investigating the burglary.

Inspector Huw Nicholas said: "Breaking and entering is a serious enough crime but if it is the case that these men drove a car directly at the gentleman, with the potential to kill or cause serious injury, then that is as serious as it gets."

The three men are described as white and in their early twenties.

Mr Vale praised his 18-month-old dog Henry for raising the alarm.

"We are really proud of him. I won't be telling him off for barking again," he added.

Anyone with any information should contact Gwent Police on 01633838111.